Henri Renaud
b. 20 April 1925, Villedieu-sur-Indre, France. From the mid-40s and on into the middle of the following decade, pianist and record producer Renaud was active in Paris where he often accompanied visiting American jazzmen. Among the visitors with whom he worked and occasionally recorded were Don Byas, Milt Jackson, J.J. Johnson, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Lester Young and Clifford Brown. From the early '50s he was often the producer of the record dates on which he played and he was also active on radio and television. In the late '50s he was briefly resident in the USA, continuing to organize and play on record dates. In the mid-60s he was back in Paris where he became head of French CBS Records. He has also written about jazz and was a consultant for the highly successful jazz feature film ROUND MIDNIGHT. A sound pianist and able accompanist, Renaud's playing career has been overshadowed by the success and importance of his parallel career as a record company executive. One of few musicians in the field, certainly at such an exalted level, he has masterminded many fine recording dates as well as instigating an interesting reissue programme.