The Jazz Organ Scene
New Caledonia
 may 2006 |
Michel Bénébig
Michel Bénébig was born 27th June 1964 in Nouméa, New Caledonia.
Michel discovered the Hammond organ through hours of listening to his parent's old vinyl recordings.
At 7 years of age, Michel was surprised and excited by seeing Rhoda Scott on the television.
At 11 years old, he played bass guitar, accordion, electronic organ and the synthesizer in various
orchestras and bands all over New Caledonia.
Michel joined the Territorial School of Music of Nouméa, and followed traditional courses of piano. In 1990, Michel headed to Besançon, France, to complete a 2-years degree at the local Academy of Music. It was here that an enthusiastic friend first introduced Michel to the real thing: the Hammond organ, an L-100 model. Michel knew there and then that Hammond was the instrument for him! Upon returning to New Caledonia, Michel ordered a Hammond XB5 model, just to get started. Michel became a music teacher at the Territorial School of Music, the same school he attended as a student, at the same time launching an intensive study of Hammond organists such as Jimmy Smith, Jack Mc Duff, Jimmy Mc Griff, Shirley Scott, Rhoda Scott, Wild Bill Davis, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Joey Defrancesco, Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, and so many others. In february of 1995, fate took a lucky turn, Michel came in contact with "Keyboard Exchange International", an American company located in Florida that is dedicated to the restoration and exportation of vintage Hammond Organs. Michel spent a month here carrying out a specialised technical training course. He also began recording an instructional video which was sold with organs in order to give young and budding organist a kick start into the world of Hammond. Whilst on the trip to Atlanta in Georgia, Michel had the extreme pleasure of meeting the great Jimmy Mc Griff. Michel was helping Joe Vaughn, the owner of the B3 being used for Jimmy Mc Griff's tour in the small town of Rome. When Jimmy himself asked Michel to play - the whole time Michel was playing a tune from Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Mc Griff remained next to him, tapping along, providing strong encouragement and praising Michel's footwork: "Not bad for the 2 years old Hammond player!" Another pleasurable moment was the meeting with the master, Jimmy Smith, in Oakland, California at "Yoshi's" famous Jazz-Club, in 1996. The makings of wonderful memories are also meeting organists such as Larry Goldings, Duck Jethro, Ronnie Foster, Rhoda Scott, and many more. |
| contact: | hammondbenebig@lagoon.nc |
| homepage: | www.michelbenebig.com |
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www.myspace.com/michelbenebig |
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Click on the logo to see Michel's tour dates. |
