MICHEL BENEBIG Jazz-organist

Article from 'Bernies Music Land' Melbourne - Australia 2007.

Hammond Organist, Michel Benebig

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Michel Benebig is an awesome Hammond organ player. It's not hard to see why guys like Jimmy Smith were happy to hang out with him, or that Tony Monaco considers him a close personal friend. Not only can this guy play, but he really is one hell of a nice person.

After sending hundreds of emails in regards to setting up a tour for Michel, the day finally came and he arrived at the store. He wasn't tired at all. He just wanted to sink his teeth into the New B-3 and that he did. I was awestruck as he played all the classic Hammond language with precision and ease. It was really good for me to see that skill up close. I only get to hear it on CD, but Michel has actually met the masters and learned straight from the source. We hung out and talked a bit about Hammond players and Hammond playing and all the other stuff musicians rave on about, then it was time to leave.

Sunday morning at 9am, I arrived at Michel's hotel to pick up him and Vaughn Roberts (a fine trumpeter from out friendly neighboring New Zealand) and take them to radio 3PBS headquarters in Collingwood for a live-to-air performance. Far too early for me, considering I'd had a gig the night before and got home somewhere in the vicinity of 3am. Still, it had to be done and we had great fun. Mike Jordan and Adam Simmons were there ready to go and off they went. Straight to air without a rehearsal. Michel had brought the sheet music to his original tunes and handed them out to the guys and they had no problems reading and interpreting what Michel's ideas were. I love professional musicians!

Bernie's daughter, Michelle, was a great help manning the phones at 3PBS studios, but she soon got distracted (must have been that whole working on a Sunday thing) so she decided that we simply must do a spot of shopping at the Victoria Markets. “Come on Michel, you're going to love it!” I heard her say. We all know who loved it the most! (Thanks Kim! You spent just as much money as me! –Michelle)

Later that night it was on to the famous Bennetts Lane Jazz Club in the city for a full 2 set gig starting at 9:30pm. As you can imagine, everyone was getting fairly tired by now, but alas, the show must go on. I felt sorry for Mike Jordan. He'd done the radio show in the morning, off to play at the Mentone Hotel in the afternoon, and on to this gig at night. What a trooper. The crowd enjoyed the show immensely as Michel plowed through his original repertoire and gave the organ everything he had.

Onto the Paris Cat and we had some real fun. Bernie's other daughter, Lisa, arrived for the party and you'd better believe that it was. We all had a great time, even Craig! Michel was up to his usual tricks and played the hell out of the organ. Many of the younger people in the audience were in awe of this little man belting out groovy tunes on this beast of an instrument and wondering “Where's the bass coming from?”

Michel offered private workshops here at the store for the weekend and many of the guys took him up on the offer. I suppose they just had to know how this amazing sound was being created.

I'm sure most of you were here for the in-store appearance and it was one of the largest crowds I've seen here in a while. I was most pleased to see Sue Leitch up the front and having the time of her life. I remember talking to her later and Sue saying, “Oh, you know I love this stuff”. That's always nice to hear. Michel was extremely informative with helpful suggestions on drawbar settings and classic techniques. Again, the band was bubbling and cooking away, twisting and turning with all Michel's awesome moves. Be sure to keep an ear out for the Live at Bernies recording. It's sure to be a hit.

Sunday night and it was the last gig in Melbourne. A bit of a quiet night due to the St. Kilda festival. It was, however, a really nice way to wind down the hectic pace. A few special guests appeared including KNAG guitarist Neil Boland (the KNAG CD should be available as this goes to print, so be sure to come down and get your copy!) and Bomba saxophonist Peter Mitchell (as seen in the movie “Kenny”) made for a really memorable evening.

Michel flew out after a special guest appearance himself at the world famous Rainbow Hotel with the Paul Williamson Hammond Combo, and on to Sydney for a workshop at the Sydney's home of Hammond “Carlingford Music Centre”. One of the highlights of the trip for Michel was the Organ Summit, live at the Basement, another famous Australian jazz club.

With so much going on here, I wouldn't be surprised if Michel was kicking up his heels on a New Caledonian beach. He sent us a few photos of Noumea. I think I'd like to visit him sometime.

Kim K.



http://www.michelbenebig.com
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Chroniques du CD 'Sunlight Special'

LINER NOTES 'SUNLIGHT SPECIAL'

"I have been playing with Michel Benebig for several years now and have watched him develop and grow as a musician. This recording reveals the extent of his talent - strong, swinging organ - in and of the great organ tradition, but with his own sound and style. his love and enthusiasm for this music is present in every note he plays.

I had not met Dixon prior to this tour - but we had an instant hook-up both personally and musically. As you can hear, he is a beautiful soloist and, just as importantly, he knows how to accompany in an organ situation - a rare and special talent.

The vocals of Shem add a unique and special sound to this recording.

Thanks to Michel and Shem for the opportunity to tour their beautiful country and to play the music we all love!"

Andrew Dickeson ( http://www.andrewdickeson.com )
( Sydney Australia )



LINER NOTES 'SUNLIGHT SPECIAL'
It is such a privilege to perform in exotic locations with great musicians, so naturally I jumped at the chance of working with Michel, Shem and Andrew in New Caledonia. From the first downbeat of the first tune the vibe was great and swinging like crazy; some fine music was created on the gigs which culminated in this recording. As a guitarist I can't emphasize how important it is to have a killer rhythm section to support you and to create and interact with you. The combination of Michel and Andrew was one of the finest I've worked with and I am extremely pleased to have been a part of the making of this project.

I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it!

Many thanks to Michel, Shem and Andrew for sharing their talent and the many great musical moments!

Dixon Nacey ( http://www.dixonnacey.com )
( Auckland New Zealand )
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LINER NOTES – 'SUNLIGHT SPECIAL'

Whether celebrating the natural beauty of his native New Caledonia or the grittier beauty of American soul-jazz, organist Michel Benebig captures the mood and the moment perfectly on his latest release Sunlight Special, featuring guitarist Dixon Nacey, drummer Andrew Dickeson, and vocalist Fabienne Shem Benebig on select tracks.

The indefatigable Michel Benebig needs no introduction in South Pacific jazz organ circles. Since the 2008 release of Live in Melbourne, the organist's band has toured extensively in New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand, at times featuring special-guest appearances from visiting overseas musicians, most recently guitarist Randy Johnston, and drummers Larry Ransome and George Coleman Jr. With this newest release, the organist is poised to reach a larger audience and make his musical presence known worldwide. Along with vocalist (and wife) Shem, Michel debuts in Paris, France in the Spring of 2010 in a series of performances and hopes to appear in New York City sometime after that.

The versatile Shem boasts a varied vocal background, having worked for the past dozen years in New Caledonia in pop and rock settings. In the last few years, Shem has come to appreciate jazz and blues singers and now counts the legendary Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald as her jazz inspirations. Shem adds grace and her distinctive vocal style to the session, as well as several compositions that she wrote or co-wrote with Michel.

For this live date, recorded at the beachfront Hotel Surf, near the capital city of Noumea, the duo partnered with guitarist Dixon Nacey and drummer Andrew Dickeson.

Nacey, a top session man in his native New Zealand, brings plenty of tasty solos, verve and wit to the recording.

Andrew Dickeson brings his considerable talents to bear, having studied and worked with some of the best and brightest on the international scene. The Sydney, Australia native was a finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Drums Competition in 1992, currently teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is a first-call drummer on the Australian music scene.

The trio locks down a strong groove from the start and they open with Black Groove, a slow-burner salute to the late great organist, Capt'n Jack McDuff.

The pace quickens on Nice Days, a nostalgic tale told by Shem about how “...things ain't what they used to be!!” Sortie de secours, (emergency exit), talks about “...poor people around the world who need to be supported and helped.”

On the lovely blues Papouasie Borneo, the chanteuse speaks longingly of big city residents who dream of escaping city life to wild and isolated places like Borneo and Papua New Guinea.

On the brilliant title track, Sunlight Special, the trio pays homage Michel's creative muse, the beautiful light over New Caledonia, and the idyllic South Pacific environment in which he lives and works.

Shem returns with J'ai fait le point, a song about making your point in life with sound decisions.

The session wraps with the trio's Long Way Drive, a piece about being “...all day long on the road.” It's a nod to all the jazz and blues musicians “...who have to drive hours and hours to get to a gig, sometimes lost in the middle of nowhere”. Note the witty exchanges between guitarist Nacey and Michel.

Michel Benebig's soul-jazz propensities really shine in this classic OGD setting. Michel's assertion as an instrumentalist and composer can be felt throughout this release, and we hear a strong, eloquent voice and personal style emerging. Sunlight Special provides a solid addition to his growing discography and is sure to add to his fan-base worldwide.

Linda Goshay Jones
http://www.myspace.com/jazzplanner
( Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA )
March 2010
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LINER NOTES 'SUNLIGHT SPECIAL'
- Picture the modern jazz organist and you might imagine someone from the gritty urban streets of Philadelphia. In fact, many of the most famous were born there: Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, Shirley Scott, and Joey DeFrancesco to name a few. These artists are among those who influenced Michel Bénébig, who hails from a location distant from The City of Brotherly Love: the elongated, 7,000 square mile island country of New Calédonia, which lies in the southwest Pacific approximately 1,000 miles east-northeast of Australia. Home to nearly 225,000 residents, New Calédonia seems an improbable place to find a 310-pound Hammond B-3, its bulky pedalboard (watch out for those sharp edges!), and requisite 150-pound Leslie 122 speaker cabinet. But find them and loads of jazz organ records Michel did.
In spite of his separation from the birth of jazz and its most famous organists, Michel has devoted himself to mastering the styles of those aforementioned artists, plus his other Hammond–playing heroes: Jack McDuff, Rhoda Scott, Wild Bill Davis, Richard “Groove” Holmes, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Indeed, Michel does his Hammond gods proud, soloing oh-so-sweetly and passionately, solidly kicking ever-evolving and intricate bass lines, and smoothly comping on this gorgeous collection of seven original songs either he or his wife Shem composed. She shares her beautiful voice here on “Nice Days,” “Sortie de Secours,” “Papouasie Bornéo,” and “J'ai fait le point.”
Intimately recorded in front of a small but appreciative audience at the Hotel Le Surf in Nouméa City, New Calédonia, Sunlight Special also features Auckland, New Zealand, guitarist Dixon Nacey — providing perfectly tasteful counterpoint to Michel's outstanding organ work — and drummer Andrew Dickeson of Sydney, Australia, whose elegant rhythms drive these soulful and lively tunes home. Sunlight Special has been continuously spinning in my CD player since its arrival, and I know Michel's icons would wholeheartedly approve of this effort. I can't wait to hear more of his and Shem's magic in the future, and hope you'll stay tuned, too.
Mark Vail
( Sacramento - California USA )
"The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B"
'Keyboard Magazin USA'
http://www.markvail.com

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LINER NOTES ( chronique ) 'SUNLIGHT SPECIAL'

Porte-parole du jazz en général et de l'Orgue Hammond en particulier, Michel Bénébig est un boulimique de musique qui, de Nouvelle Calédonie dont il est originaire, inonde tout le Pacifique Sud de ses notes, que ce soit en quartet, en quintet et même plus encore ... Musicien et compositeur mais aussi professeur, cet artiste parmi les plus attachants nous emmène régulièrement en musique dans son île mais aussi parfois bien plus loin en associant toutes sortes de sonorités au jazz et en laissant parfois un peu de place aux influences ethniques dans une œuvre déjà bien fournie. A l'heure où il s'apprête à venir donner quelques concerts parisiens pour convaincre la capitale de toute l'étendue de son talent, l'organiste se retourne un moment sur un concert donné à l'Hôtel Surf de Nouméa en août dernier, alors qu'il se produisait en quartet en compagnie du Néo-Zélandais Dixon Nacey à la guitare, de l'Australien Andrew Dickeson à la batterie et de son épouse, la délicieuse Shem, au chant.

On connaît le génie dont fait preuve Michel Bénébig quand il s'agit d'intercaler sur un seul et même ouvrage de longs passages instrumentaux et des titres chantés, les premiers se chargeant de poser mais aussi d'entretenir une ambiance chaude et colorée en attendant les seconds ... Tenir une heure de spectacle avec leurs propres créations est un exercice qui ne pose aucune difficulté à Shem et Michel Bénébig et si chacun des musiciens présents sur scène y va de ses délicates démonstrations de finesse, de subtilité ou même de maestria, c'est à chaque fois remis au pas par la voix pleine de sensualité et de nuances de la diva que ses mâles accompagnateurs retournent à leurs gammes pendant qu'elle nous emmène avec foi vers « Papouasie Bornéo », « J'ai fait le point » ou même vers une superbe « Sortie de secours ». Mélanger la technicité et le feeling du jazz instrumental, le grain si séduisant de l'Orgue Hammond et le cachet si typique du jazz vocal avec autant d'ingéniosité ne pouvait que conduire à la diversité mais aussi à la richesse naturelle d'une musique qui n'en finit plus de jeter dans le ciel de petites étincelles de talent mais aussi de plaisir et c'est une fois encore que le Michel Bénébig Quartet y parvient haut la main, ressortant de ce concert pour le moins exceptionnel avec un album non moins exceptionnel, un ouvrage qui sera, c'est désormais presque une tradition familiale, illustré par une œuvre graphique de Shem, pas une peinture cette mais un dessin ... Encore un bel album !...
Fred Delforge
( Paris - France )
http://www.zicazic.com
http://www.trust.tm.fr

LINER NOTES ( chronique ) 'SUNLIGHT SPECIAL'

After the release of "Michel Benebig - Live in Melbourne" in 2007 on which Michel Benebig played the Hammond 'NewB3P' as a bandleader in a setup, drums, trumpet and saxophones this is the second CD of Michel Benebig in a totally different setting. I am pleased to tell you about the rare - if not unique - qualities he managed to get together on this album. To start with, there aren't that much albums out there with both vocals and organ that can be considered pure jazz. Among the people I know that really appreciate organ jazz - let's face it, it's a niche - for some reason not clear to me, there are more then only a few who would not reject that organ jazz and vocals don´t go together very well. Michel Benebig and his wife 'Shem' - who is responsible for the vocals on this album - did a great job in proving this a plain wrong position. If you belong to the aforementioned rather fundamentalist group and you are inclined to disregard this album further I advice you to read on. If you are genuinely interested in organ jazz, that is. On this album you will not hear a jazz band that accompanies a female singer. The opposite is true. What you will hear is a classic organ - guitar - drum trio being enriched by the vocals of Shem that have what I would call a kind of abstract dimension. If you want to know what I mean you should jump right in by listening the 6th track appropriately named "J'ai fait le point". I have some organ jazz albums with vocals in my 800+ record collection, none of them show these characteristics. (If somebody comes up with an album that proves these characteristics are not unique I will add the fact that the texts on this recording are French).

You might not have noticed but I have mentioned already another rare feature in organ jazz; husband and wife playing on a recording (with one of them behind the console I might add). I know this is slightly off topic but as a collector I just like these 'trivia'. It is just fun to realize that Michel and Shem just joined the list with teams like Shirley Scott/Stanley Turrentine's and George/Gloria Coleman. Should I add Joey DeFrancesco and Colleen Mc Nabb?..

Back to a more serious topic. What I like most about this album is that it shows that Michel has successfully studied - and has been very serious about - directions to minimalism. This is not only reflected in the lineup and compositions of the set but also in the musical expression. You probably know the Hammond B3 is able to growl and roar. Many organists make use of these features extensively. It is however rather rare to have an organist playing with full swing while applying the Less Is More principle - as originally introduced by Dr. Lonnie Smith - in a very authentic and idiosyncratic way. Michel Benebig is one of those rare organists.

Taeke Tuinstra ( Netherlands )
www.hammondjazz.net
www.kipzonderkop.com