Lou Bennett began as a bop pianist, then switched to organ and became a solid player in the late '50s. With Jimmy Smith's virtuostic approach as inspiration, Bennett left piano behind in 1956, and toured the East and Midwest with his organ trio from 1957 through 1959. Bennett left America for Paris in 1960. He recorded there, played at the city's Blue Note club with Jimmy Gourley and fellow expatriate Kenny Clarke, who became one of his regulars alongside Rene Thomas. Bennett made only one return visit to America, appearing at the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival. He led his own group during the '80s.
Before he began performing in the very organist-friendly clubs in the "Big Apple," Lou Bennett (whose real name was Jean-Louis Benoit, his father originally from Martinique) made his debut as a pianist in Baltimore. He tried to forget that period after succumbing to the Hammond organ's charms in 1956 ; he felt too many of his peers couldn't manage to give up their piano technique, thus missing out on the added resource of working vvith the pedal-board.
On June 21, 1960, Lou Bennett arrived in Le Havre with his organ, which might as well have been a UFO to customs officials. He did a two-month, then extended engagement at the “Blue Note ” on rue d’Artois and several tours punctuated with festival performances," people everywhere were falling over themselves to hear the organist and his trio, which originally included Jimmy Gourley on guitar.
ln 1963, René Thomas replaced him : "We had fun… Lou Bennett was doing well, the trio was doing well, we made a few records. Some of them are good…" Lou Bennett : "Jimmy Raney also had that way of playing melodically. René does it every time, even on a very fast tempo, and tis playing blends wel with the organ." Under such auspices, how could Enfin ! be any thing but a great album ? It's a record to hear over and over, assured as we are of enjoying it just as much, without reservations, every time…
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