Michel Benita (born 1954 in Algiers, Algeria) is a double bass player, prominent in jazz music since the 1980s.[1] Benita moved to Paris in the early 1980s, performing extensively in local jazz clubs and concert venues alongside visiting players, expatriates, and local musicians.[2] In 1986 he was invited to join the inaugural line-up of the Orchestre National de Jazz, under the direction of François Jeanneau.[3] During his career Benita has worked with Aldo Romano, Marc Ducret, Horace Parlan, Martial Solal, Lee Konitz, Andy Sheppard, Dino Saluzzi, Dewey Redman, Erik Truffaz and Archie Shepp, among many others.[2] He formed the ELB trio in 1999 with Vietnamese guitar player Nguyên Lê and American drummer Peter Erskine.[4]
Michel Benita | |
|---|---|
 Michel Benita at INNtöne Jazzfestival in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 29 July 1954 Algiers, Algeria |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, composer |
| Instrument | Double bass |
| Labels | ECM Records, Label Bleu, ACT Music |
| Website | michelbenita |
In recent years Benita has been closely associated with ECM Records, releasing a number of albums as leader[5][6] but also as a sideman for saxophonist, Andy Sheppard.[7][8]
Awards
editDiscography
edit- Preferences (Label Bleu, 1990)
- Soul (Label Bleu, 1993)
- The Woman Next Door (Label Bleu, 1998)
- ELB (ACT, 2004)
- Drastic (BHM Productions, 2006)
- Dream Flight (ACT, 2008)
- Ramblin' (Blu Jazz, 2008)
- Un Soir au Club (Le Chant du Monde, 2010)
- Ethics (Zig Zag, 2010)
- River Silver (ECM, 2016)
- Looking at Sounds (ECM, 2020)
With Andy Sheppard
- Trio Libero (ECM, 2012)
- Surrounded by Sea (ECM, 2015)
- Romaria (ECM, 2018)
References
edit- ^ Marmande, Francis (2004) "Michel Benita, les basses doucement !", Le Monde, 16 January 2004
- ^ a b "Michel Benita". ECM Records. ECM Records. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ Benita, Michel. "Biography". Michel Benita. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "E_L_B (Peter Erskine_Nguyen Le_Michel Benita): Dream Flight". All About Jazz. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Fordham, John (2016). "Michel Benita and Ethics: River Silver review – world-folk that's like a warm bath". The Guardian. No. 21 January. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ Kunzmann, Friedrich (2021). "Michel Benita: Looking at Sounds". AllAboutJazz. No. 22 May. ll About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ Fordham, John (2015). "Andy Sheppard Quartet: Surrounded by Sea review – an intriguing shift for lyrical saxophonist". The Guardian. No. 16 April. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ Layman, Will (2018). "The Andy Sheppard Quartet Creates Jazzy Beauty on 'Romaria'". PopMatters. No. 20 June. PopMatters Media, Inc. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Nomination dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres juillet 2015". culturecommunication.gouv.fr (in French). 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.