Henri Renaud
Encyclopedia
Henri Renaud was a French jazz
pianist
and record company executive.
His styles reflected the decades when he was musically active: he played in the Swing, Bebop
and Cool
styles. He developed renown internationally when he served as an ensemble-organizing point-man for visiting jazz performers from the United States.
He moved to Paris in 1946 and established a career as a jazz pianist. He joined tenor-saxophonist Jean-Claude Fohrenbach's combo. During 1949 and 1950 he accompanied Don Byas
, James Moody
and Roy Eldridge
. In 1952 he performed at various times with Lester Young
, Sarah Vaughan
and Clifford Brown
.
Noted American bebop trumpeter Clifford Brown
made several recordings with Renuad. In 1954, Renaud visited the United States, where he recorded.
He made recordings with Milt Jackson
, J. J. Johnson, Al Cohn
, Oscar Pettiford
, Max Roach
, Frank Foster
and Bob Brookmeyer
.
Upon becoming an executive for French CBS' jazz division in 1964, he largely stopped his activity as a professional jazz pianist, but did occasional work as a film composer.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and record company executive.
His styles reflected the decades when he was musically active: he played in the Swing, Bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
and Cool
Cool jazz
Cool is a style of modern jazz music that arose following the Second World War. It is characterized by its relaxed tempos and lighter tone, in contrast to the bebop style that preceded it...
styles. He developed renown internationally when he served as an ensemble-organizing point-man for visiting jazz performers from the United States.
He moved to Paris in 1946 and established a career as a jazz pianist. He joined tenor-saxophonist Jean-Claude Fohrenbach's combo. During 1949 and 1950 he accompanied Don Byas
Don Byas
Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, long-resident in Europe.- Oklahoma and Los Angeles :...
, James Moody
James Moody (saxophonist)
James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player. He was best known for his hit "Moody's Mood for Love," an improvisation based on "I'm in the Mood for Love"; in performance, he often improvised vocals for the tune.-Biography:James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia...
and Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
Roy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
. In 1952 he performed at various times with Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
, Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
and Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
.
Noted American bebop trumpeter Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
made several recordings with Renuad. In 1954, Renaud visited the United States, where he recorded.
He made recordings with Milt Jackson
Milt Jackson
Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
, J. J. Johnson, Al Cohn
Al Cohn
Al Cohn was an American jazz saxophonist and arranger and composer.-Biography:Alvin Gilbert Cohn was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was initially known in the 1940s for playing in Woody Herman's Second Herd as one of the Four Brothers, along with Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Serge Chaloff...
, Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer known particularly for his pioneering work in bebop.-Biography:...
, Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
, Frank Foster
Frank Foster (musician)
Frank Foster was an American tenor and soprano saxophonist, flautist, arranger, and composer. Foster collaborated frequently with Count Basie and worked as a bandleader from the early 1950s.-Biography:...
and Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer
Robert Brookmeyer is an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer.-Biography:Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Gerry Mulligan's quartet from 1954 to 1957. He later worked with Jimmy Giuffre...
.
Upon becoming an executive for French CBS' jazz division in 1964, he largely stopped his activity as a professional jazz pianist, but did occasional work as a film composer.
As Leader
- Henri Renaud Trio, Sextet & All Stars (Vogue, 1953-55) with Jimmy GourleyJimmy GourleyJames Pasco Gourley, Jr. was an American jazz guitarist, active from the 1950s to the 2000s.Gourley was born in St...
, Pierre MichelotPierre MichelotPierre Michelot was a French bebop and hard bop double bass player.Born in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, Paris, Michelot studied piano from 1936 until 1938, but switched to playing bass at the age of sixteen... - Jazz in Paris - Zoots Sims & Henri Renaud (Emarcy, 1952)
- Henri Renaud/Al Cohn Quartet (Emarcy)
- The Henri Renaud All Stars (1955)
- The 1954 Paris Sessions with Roy HaynesRoy HaynesRoy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
, René ThomasRené Thomas (guitarist)René Thomas is considered one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 1960s, but has remained rather unknown to the general public. After the Second World War, he played with the "Bop Shots", Belgium's first be-bop outfit with Jacques Pelzer and Bobby Jaspar...
, Frank FosterFrank Foster (musician)Frank Foster was an American tenor and soprano saxophonist, flautist, arranger, and composer. Foster collaborated frequently with Count Basie and worked as a bandleader from the early 1950s.-Biography:...
As Sideman
- Clifford Brown: Quartet in Paris / Sextet in Paris (OJC, 1953)
- Jay Cameron: The Third Herdsman - The Vogue Sessions (Vogue, 1955)
- Al Cohn: The Birdlanders Vol.1 and Vol.2 (OJC, 1954)
- Bobby Jaspar: Bobby Jaspar/Henri Renaud (Vogue 1953-54) with Jimmy Gourley, Fats Sadi
- Oscar Pettiford: Sextet (Vogue, 1954)
- Zoot Sims: Quartet & Sextet (Vogue, 1953)
- Lucky Thompson: Jazz in Paris - Modern Jazz Group (Emarcy, 1956)
External links
- [ allmusic.com biography]