Michel Denis
Michel Denis (born May 1, 1941, Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French jazz and blues drummer. Denis played early in his career with the Roman Dixieland Jazz Band, and worked extensively with dixieland and swing musicians such as Don Byas, Dominique Chanson, Bill Coleman, Michel De Villers, Earl Hines, Stuff Smith, and Rex Stewart. After Memphis Slim moved to Paris, Denis joined his band, working with him for eighteen years; concurrently, he also played as a sideman for Paul Gonsalves, Johnny Griffin, Claude Guilhot, John Lee Hooker, Michel Sardaby, T-Bone Walker, and Big Joe Williams.
Michel Denis
drummer.
- Born
- 1941. · Boulogne-Billancourt.
- Nationality
- France.
- Occupation
- drummer and musician.
- Fields
- jazz and Dixieland jazz.
- Honours
- Prix Sidney Bechet.
- Languages
- French.
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Documentary summary
Michel Denis (born May 1, 1941, Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French jazz and blues drummer. Denis played early in his career with the Roman Dixieland Jazz Band, and worked extensively with dixieland and swing musicians such as Don Byas, Dominique Chanson, Bill Coleman, Michel De Villers, Earl Hines, Stuff Smith, and Rex Stewart. After Memphis Slim moved to Paris, Denis joined his band, working with him for eighteen years; concurrently, he also played as a sideman for Paul Gonsalves, Johnny Griffin, Claude Guilhot, John Lee Hooker, Michel Sardaby, T-Bone Walker, and Big Joe Williams.
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gnd · 1028904436 · museum · c0c95ac6-58b6-4a87-8e33-123078844c44 · wikidata · Q29641083 · wikipedia · Michel Denis
In this article
Biography
Biography
In the 1970s he played with Dany Doriz extensively. In 1981 he joined François Rilhac's Harlem Jazz ensemble, and later worked with Peter Compo and Philippe Milanta, the latter accompanying Spanky Wilson.
Places
Named by the record
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FR.
Country
Boulogne-Billancourt.
Birth place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Michel Denis”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q29641083: Michel Denis
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Michel Denis
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1028904436, Michel, Denis.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
References
Citations
References
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Institutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for Michel DenisMetaBrainz Foundation
Institutional witnessauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1028904436, Michel, Denis.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
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(MusicBrainz artist record for Michel Denis) • Country: FR (MusicBrainz artist record for Michel Denis) • Described As: drummer (MusicBrainz artist record for Michel Denis) • Kind Of Artist: person (MusicBrainz artist record for Michel Denis) • Award: Michel Denis is recorded as having received Prix Sidney Bechet.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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