Michel Benita
An internationalist at the heart of the French scene since the early 1980s, Michel Benita honed his craft in the jazz clubs and concert halls of Paris playing with an extensive roll call of visiting players, expatriates and local musicians – the list includes Archie Shepp, Horace Parlan, Billy Hart, Joe Lovano, Bobo Stenson, Joe Diorio, Gordon Beck, Enrico Rava, Dino Saluzzi, Lee Konitz, Harold Danko, Jon Christensen, Nils-Petter Molvaer, Joshua Redman, Tom Harrell, Roy Haynes, Charlie Mariano, Peter Erskine, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Kuhn, Kenny Werner, Enrico Pieranunzi, François Jeanneau, Daniel Humair, Michel Portal, Toots Thielemans, Martial Solal, Michel Legrand, l'Orchestre de Lyon and many more.
His first recordings as leader featured the late, great Dewey Redman alongside Rita Marcotulli and Aldo Romano. Benita’s sense of improvising possibility has often looked beyond jazz, and his 2008 album Ramblin[...]
An internationalist at the heart of the French scene since the early 1980s, Michel Benita honed his craft in the jazz clubs and concert halls of Paris playing with an extensive roll call of visiting players, expatriates and local musicians – the list includes Archie Shepp, Horace Parlan, Billy Hart, Joe Lovano, Bobo Stenson, Joe Diorio, Gordon Beck, Enrico Rava, Dino Saluzzi, Lee Konitz, Harold Danko, Jon Christensen, Nils-Petter Molvaer, Joshua Redman, Tom Harrell, Roy Haynes, Charlie Mariano, Peter Erskine, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Kuhn, Kenny Werner, Enrico Pieranunzi, François Jeanneau, Daniel Humair, Michel Portal, Toots Thielemans, Martial Solal, Michel Legrand, l'Orchestre de Lyon and many more.
His first recordings as leader featured the late, great Dewey Redman alongside Rita Marcotulli and Aldo Romano. Benita’s sense of improvising possibility has often looked beyond jazz, and his 2008 album Ramblin’ reflected a love of country music, bluegrass and folk.
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| YEAR | DATE | Artist | VENUE | LOCATION | |
| 2026 | October 10 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
Casa della Musica | Parma, Italy | |
| 2026 | October 16 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
Jazz & The City Festival | Salzburg, Austria | |
| 2026 | October 17 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
Budapest Jazz Club | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 2026 | November 13 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
Wiltshire Music Centre | Bradford on Avon, United Kingdom | |
| 2026 | November 17 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
Downing College | Cambridge, United Kingdom | |
| 2026 | November 18 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
EFG London Jazz Festival- Cadogan Hall | London, United Kingdom | |
| 2026 | November 19 |
Andy Sheppard Trio w/ Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita
"Salt Catchers" |
University of Surrey Performing Arts Studio | Guildford, United Kingdom |