lo-fi recordings of a soprano saxophonist

I come from a show business family.My parents did a comedy acrobat act and I traveled all over the world with them since I was born.You could say I lived in a suitcase.When I reached the age of eight years old my father wanted me to learn to play accordion,but his real intentions, was so he could incorporate me in his act as a musical director.My parents happening to have a 6 months contract in Italy,where I was taking lessons from the musical director of the orchestra,which he conducted at least thirty musicians.Looking back on my first teacher, he was really from a contemporary classical background.Now I was on my way to see the the world of music and have an opportunity to work with musicians and big stars of that time and receive a gift of knowledge,organization,management,responsibility and see almost every culture of the world.
I must have been to at least thirty different schools all over the world.I never did have a chance to be with any school friends for long.
I worked every night and had to get up in the morning to go to school.Sometimes only having a few hours sleep,anyway I had a blast playing and living in such countries as Hong Kong was my first time performing on stage at ten years old.
Then we would go to Singapore,Philippines,Taiwan,Thailand,Vietnam, Australia,Tahiti,Fiji,Japan,Okinawa.
My first solo in the act came about in New Zealand, I was 12 years old and I played ,The flight of the Bumble Bee  by Rimsky Korsakov...  We worked all over in a chain of theaters which was incredible,because there were all there to watch the show and get entertained opposed to eating food at high class night clubs.
When I reached the age of 18 my father told me to start singing.So, I was in the Philippines at the time working at a high class super club called the ..Blue Nile..and a Philippine sax player wrote my first arrangement for the orchestra.My first song I sang was called ..Let it be me...The next song I learned was ..Mister Lonely by Bobby Vinton..Little did I know that I would be his pianist 6 years later in life.After,working 10 years with my parents.They retired and I moved on starting with joining all kinds of groups and styles. I went to Las Vegas with a show group called ..South Bay Transit.. and I worked at Caesars Palace as performer,singer,keyboards. I was asked if I would be interested in a new show, in Lake Tahoe,Harrah's Casino.I got the job as the Musical Director and M.C. and I wrote for a 22 piece orchestra for acts,singers,dancers.It was a lot of fun.Stayed there for 4 years.Then I left for Los Angeles and played with all kinds of groups, and at last I started a solo career and got a job offer to come to Europe.I have been in Europe ever since 1988.       



I'm a Jazz pianist from NZ, currently living in Sydney, Australia.  follow me on instagram for videos and other random stuff!  @aaron_blakey_  https://aaronblakey.bandcamp.com/
youtube: aaron_blakey_    and proper recordings are out on SPOTIFY and APPLE MUSIC


Michel Bénébig, organiste de Jazz & Blues, compositeur et fondateur de l’AMJ-BECA ( Association des Musiciens de Jazz & Blues pour les Echanges et la Création Artistique )
E-mail : hammondbenebig@lagoon.nc
‘Facebook’ : http://www.facebook.com/benebigmichel
 ‘Myspace’ : http://www.myspace.com/michelbenebig
‘Youtube’:http://www.youtube.com/michelbenebig 
Tél/fax : ( 687) 41 73 99
G.s.m : ( 687 ) 76 69 34
Skype : michel.benebig2
_____________________________________________
Michel Bénébig was born in New Calédonia  ( South-Pacific ) on June 27/1964.
He started playing bass, accordéon and électronic-organ ( Farfisa ) at 11 in differents dancing-bands all around New Calédonia..
Michel started to learn piano and music-theory at 16 at the  E.T.M  ( Ecole Territoriale de Musique de Nouméa ), he obtained the “Golden Médal” certificat on Piano in 1988 .
From 1990 to 1992  Michel studied in high level of classical-piano training in France  at the ‘National Conservatory of Music of Besançon’.
In june 1992, Michel switched from Classical Piano to Jazz-Organ ( Hammond B3 Organ ). Michel bought hundreds of CDs of Jazz organ Masters like; Jimmy Smith, Jack Mc Duff, Jimmy Mc Griff, Lonnie Smith, Sheirley Scott, Richard “ Groove “ Holmes, Don Paterson, Rhoda Scott, Charles Earland, Johnny Hammond Smith, Eddy Louiss etc... and as a self taught musician, Michel learnt the Blues & Jazz organ technics, spending hours and hours of practicing the pedals ...
At this time, Michel is a piano teacher at the “ E.T.M “ ( Ecole Territoriale de Musique de Nouméa ), he started teaching blues & Jazz organ technics from 2001 to 2004..
Michel had a grade-level teaching and performing exam in 2003, he obtained the “ D.E “ ( Diplome d’Etat / State Diploma ) on the Hammond Organ at the “ ETM “ now “ C.M.N.C “ ( Conservatoire de Musique de Nouvelle Calédonie ).
 Michel left the C.M.N.C in December 2006 to create an association called ‘AMJ-BECA’ ( Association des Musiciens de Jazz & Blues pour les Echanges et la Création Artistique ).The AMJ-BECA produce concerts, tours, ‘master-class’ etc… all around New Caledonia and overseas ….
Michel is performing everywhere in New Calédonia , overseas : Australia ( Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania ), New-Zealand ( Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Nelson, Christchurch, Invercargil etc.. ), Fiji ( Suva ), Vanuatu ( Vila ),  Florida USA ( Orlando ) & California USA ( Los Angeles & San-Francisco ), Ile de la Réunion ( Indian Océan ), France ( Paris, Nice, Marseille etc.. )
Michel is now recognized as one of the leading Soul-Jazz-organist around the world..
Michel was elected the “Organist of the Month” of may 2006 by “ The International Archives for the Jazz-Organ “ ( http://www.iajo.org ) , and received a certificat – diploma.

Michel mett and played with  Jazz Organists like :
Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Mc Griff, Larry Goldings, Rhoda Scott, Tony Monaco , Duke Jethro, Dave Matthiew, Eddy Crocetti , Stefan Patry, Cole Nolan,Tim Neal, Cameron Scott, Darren Heinrich ...
Michel also performed with International musicians like:
Bruce Forman, Lewis Nash,  Frank Potenza, Paul Kreibich, Carl Lockett, James Levi, Akira Tana, Denise Perrier, Nick Haywood,  Joel Taylor, Randy Jonhston, Doug Webb, George Coleman Jr , Andrew Dickeson , Roger Manins , Pete France, Rodger Fox , Dixon Nacey, Vaughn Roberts , Ron Samsom , Anthony Hopkins, Tom Mawi , Adam Simmons , Cameron Allen , Anthony Baker, Mike Jordan, Phil Collings, Matt Kirsch, Edward York, Brendan O’Reilly, Paul Williamson, Creag Beard, Eugene Ball, Ronnie Ferrella , Peter Knight, Roger Sellers, Bob Bertles,  and many more...


music soup organ trio and more! 
New Album “Upbeat Mood” out September 6 ,
http://www.musicsoupband.com

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