Lou Bennett
Encyclopedia
Lou BennettLou Bennett (b. May 18, 1926, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- d. February 10, 1997, Paris
, France
) was an American jazz
organist.
Bennett first played bebop
on piano, but started playing organ in 1956 after hearing Jimmy Smith
. Bennett toured the U.S. with an organ trio between 1957 and 1959, and then moved to Paris in 1960. There he recorded and performed at the Blue Note with Jimmy Gourley
and Kenny Clarke
(as well as Rene Thomas
); he returned to America only once, for the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival
. He also recorded in the 1960s with Philip Catherine
and Franco Manzecchi. In the 1980s he played in his own quintet with Gerard Badini, among others. During this period he also toured extensively throughout Spain, including, Almeria, La Coruna, Segovia, and of course Madrid.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
- d. February 10, 1997, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was an American jazz
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...
organist.
Bennett first played 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...
on piano, but started playing organ in 1956 after hearing Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
. Bennett toured the U.S. with an organ trio between 1957 and 1959, and then moved to Paris in 1960. There he recorded and performed at the Blue Note with Jimmy Gourley
Jimmy Gourley
James Pasco Gourley, Jr. was an American jazz guitarist, active from the 1950s to the 2000s.Gourley was born in St...
and Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke , born Kenneth Spearman Clarke, nicknamed "Klook" and later known as Liaqat Ali Salaam, was a jazz drummer and an early innovator of the bebop style of drumming...
(as well as Rene Thomas
René 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...
); he returned to America only once, for the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
. He also recorded in the 1960s with Philip Catherine
Philip Catherine
Philip Catherine is a Belgian jazz guitarist.-Biography:He was born in London from an English mother and Belgian father....
and Franco Manzecchi. In the 1980s he played in his own quintet with Gerard Badini, among others. During this period he also toured extensively throughout Spain, including, Almeria, La Coruna, Segovia, and of course Madrid.
Discography
- 1960: Amen (RCA)
- 1960: Dansez et rêvez avec le trio Lou Bennett (RCA Victor)
- 1961: Lou Bennett (RCA)
- 1963: Enfin ! (RCA)
- 1964: "Echoes And Rhythms Of My Church" (BelAir Records)
- 1965: Pentecostal Feeling (Fontana RecordsFontana RecordsFontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
) - 1966: Ovzeni Jazzohevo Festivalu 1966 (Supraphon Records)
- 1971: Plays for Clem (Clem)
- 1980: Live At The Club St Germain (Vogue)
- 1984: Blue Lou's blues (Caravage)
- 1992: Now hear my meaning (MAS)