Michel Benebig

About me:

I'm Michel Bénébig, 'Soul-Jazz' hard-bop and blues organist, composer, teacher, technician,fondator of the "AMJ-BECA" ( Association des Musiciens de Jazz & Blues pour les Echanges et la Création Artistique ), Artistic director of "YAARI" - Nouméa-City, New Calédonia in South-Pacific. I was born in Nouméa in June 27 1964. I started playing electric bass guitar, accordéon, synthesizer, Fender Rhodes piano and electronic organ ( farfisa Vip 600 )at 13 in différent dancing bands around New Calédonia. I went to the Nouméa Music school " ETM " at 16 ( classical piano & theory ). I won the "Golden Medal" on Classical piano performance at 26. While studying at the Conservatory of Music in France ( Besançon from 1990 to 1992 ), i rediscovered the Soulful sounds of the B3 hammond organ. Back to New Calédonia in early 1992, i acquired several Hammond organs ( B3's - A100's etc..), PR40's and Leslie 122 cabinets from a dealer in Orlando-Florida USA and determinedly pursued a different kind of studies ; dissecting the records and vidéos of legendary Jazz-organists ; Jimmy Smith, Jack Mc Duff, Jimmy Mc Griff, Sheirley Scott, Don Patterson, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, 'Doctor' Lonnie Smith, Larry Young, Charles Earland, Eddy Louiss, Rhoda Scott, John Patton, and so many others...I've mett two masters Jimmy Mc Griff and Jimmy Smith back in 1995 and 96 in the US. I taught myself how to play foot-pedal bass, classic Jazz-organ technics and furthered my organ studies with several sojourns to the US and Australia, where i connected with the larger Jazz community, hammond organ fans, organists, dealers, technicians, collectors... Today, i'm performing with wonderful musicians from overseas and my own local 'Soul-Jazz' group from duo ' Shem & Co ' to sextet peace band, touring, teaching, and organising Jazz-events in New Calédonia. Great musicians i did performed with in the past include: Bruce Forman, Lewis Nash, Randy Johnston, Tony Monaco, Recently i was called ' THE NEW HAMMOND ORGAN GURU ' in Australia ( Melbourne ). " The influence of Jazz B3 players like Jimmy Smith, Jack Mc Duff, Jimmy Mc Griff and Sheirley Scott has indeed spanned the Earth !, for proof ; find New Calédonia ; that's where Michel Bénébig does the Hammond gods proud, kicking solid pedal-bass, smothly comping, and soloing oh-so-sweetly... Michel Bénébig found Hammonds and taught himself how to swing big-time !!... Hope to hear more Bénébig magic music !.. " Mark Vail 'Keyboard Magazine USA / April 2007 issue. .. For further informations about me, the blues singer and Artist painter 'SHEM ', please feel free to visit my 'New' Web-site 'Blog': http://www.michelbenebig.com and the Older one : http://www.michel-benebig.com E-mail contact: hammondbenebig@lagoon.nc Tél/fax: 687 41 73 99. Mob: 687 76 69 34.

Have a look at some videos : http://www.youtube.com/michelbenebig

http://www.soundvault.com.au/

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