Henri Renaud Explained

Henri Renaud (20 April 1925, in Villedieu-sur-Indre, France  - 16 October 2002, in Paris)^{[1] [2]} was a French jazz pianist, record producer, and record company executive.

His styles reflected the decades when he was musically active: he played in the swing, bebop and cool styles. He developed a reputation internationally when he served as an ensemble-organizing point-man for visiting jazz performers from the United States.^[3]

Renaud moved to Paris in 1946 and established a career as a jazz pianist.^[4] He joined tenor-saxophonist Jean-Claude Fohrenbach's combo. During 1949 and 1950, he accompanied Don Byas, James Moody, and Roy Eldridge.^[4] In 1952, he performed with Lester Young, Sarah Vaughan, and Clifford Brown.^[3] Brown made several recordings with Renaud. In 1954, Renaud visited the United States, where he recorded.^[3] He made recordings with Milt Jackson, J. J. Johnson, Al Cohn, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach, Frank Foster, and Bob Brookmeyer.^[4]

Upon becoming an executive for French CBS' jazz division in 1964,^[4] he largely stopped his activity as a professional jazz pianist,^[3] but did occasional work as a film composer.

Discography

As leader

• Henri Renaud et Son Orchestre (Duretet Thomson, 1957)
• Dance and Mood Music Vol. 8 (Chappell, 1969)
• Blue Cylinder (PSI, 1970)
• Jeu De L'oie with Georges Arvanitas, Andre Ceccarelli (Arion, 1971)
• New Sound at the Boeuf Sur Le Toit (Fresh Sound, 1987)
• Complete Legendary Saturne Picture Discs (Paris Jazz Corner, 2001)

As sideman

• Clifford Brown, Quartet in Paris / Sextet in Paris (OJC, 1953)
• Clifford Brown, Clifford Brown Quartet (Vogue, 1953)
• Jay Cameron, The Third Herdsman – The Vogue Sessions (Vogue, 1955)
• Al Cohn, The Birdlanders Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (OJC, 1954)
• Gigi Gryce et son Orchestre (Vogue, 1953)
• Bobby Jaspar, Bobby Jaspar/Henri Renaud (Vogue 1953–54) with Jimmy Gourley, Fats Sadi
• Lee Konitz, Lee Konitz Plays (Disques Vogue, 1953)
• Oscar Pettiford, Oscar Pettiford Sextet (Disques Vogue, 1954)
• Zoot Sims, Quartet & Sextet (Vogue, 1953)
• Zoot Sims, Zoot Sims Avec Henri Renaud Et Son Orchestre Et Jon Eardley (Ducretet–Thomson, 1956)^[5]
• Lucky Thompson, Jazz in Paris – Modern Jazz Group (Emarcy, 1956)

See also

• Clifford Brown
• French jazz

Notes and References

1. Web site: matchID - RENAUD Henri Raymond Fernand 77 ans, Villedieu Sur Indre 20/04/1925 - Saint-Cloud 16/10/2002 . deces.matchid.io . 2 December 2023.
2. Web site: Henri Renaud. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711225721/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2babab4eae. dead. July 11, 2018. 2.bfi.org.uk. 7 October 2021.
3. Web site: Henri Renaud Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More. AllMusic. 7 October 2021.
4. Book: The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1992. First. 0-85112-939-0. 2072.
5. Web site: Zoot Sims Avec Henri Renaud Et Son Orchestre Et Jon Eardley - Zoot Sims Avec Henri Renaud Et Son Orchestre Et Jon Eardley. Discogs. 15 November 2017.