Benoit Viellefon

Benoit Viellefon

Musicians | Instrument: Guitar and vocals | Location: London

Something very beautiful: Benoit Viellefon and his Orchestra combine French chanson, musette with swing. A very addictive mixture.

—Nathan Nörgel, Wasser-Prada (Germany)

Updated: March 29, 2024

Born: May 13, 1973

BENOIT VIELLEFON

Benoit Viellefon is one of the last "old fashion" band leaders keeping the craft alive in Europe today, backed by an all star cast of the UK's finest swing musicians. Here is his story.

Whether it be as a lifelong student of the glorious gypsy guitar musings of Django Reinhardt or as a crew member and specialist mechanic on 1930s De Havilland Tiger Moth airplanes, Benoit has always had a penchant for the nostalgic things in life. Like the man himself, Benoit's music is characterized by its distinctive elegance and boundless energy.

Having spent the late 1990s in the US, Benoit returned to London in 1998 to establish his label JohnJohnRecords.com and to work as a first-call session guitarist on many film soundtracks, international Reggae & Roots Music tours and on London's burgeoning vintage cabaret and burlesque scenes.

Having toured extensively in Europe and Japan as lead guitarist with groups such as ska legends The Trojans, Gaz Mayall, Prince Buster, Rico Rodiguez, Vin Gordon (Studio1 & Bob Marley), Louis Alphonso (Bad manners), Nick Welsh (the Selecter), Rhoda Dakar (Special AKA), and Eddie Tantan Thornton (Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Boney M, Aswad), Benoit decided it was time to step firmly into the limelight as band leader.

Benoit formed his orchestra in 2009 and it was immediately a hit on London's cabaret and vintage speakeasy scene. Since then Benoit and his Orchestra have played all over the UK and Europe to critical acclaim, fulfilling Benoit's vision of a contemporary orchestra who command the dance floor like the master entertainers of the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s.

Wether with The Orchestra, The Hot Club or The Trio, Benoit has recorded some well received albums, played many pretigious venues, from residencies at Ronnie Scotts and the Royal ALbert Hall, to Glastonbury Festival, BBC radio3, he also appeared in a good number of Hollywood films, TV productions, and some Immersive theatre shows. He got booked by Madonna, Mr Bean, the Kremlin, the Royal Family and many other celebrities to perform at their private events. He is curently living mostly in the UK, but also in France and Japan.

BENOIT VIELLEFON AND HIS ORCHESTRA

In his flagship project, Benoit directs an ensemble of internationally acclaimed musicians in a manner reminiscent of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Charles Trenet at the very height of their popularity. His authentic vocal renditions of French chanson, Swing, Russian folk, Latin American dance music have captivated audiences across the UK and all over Europe, Russia and the Far East. Benoit's successful tours in Italy, France, Belgium, Croatia, Russia and Japan are testament to the orchestra's dazzling mix of high-energy multi-instrumental virtuosity and effortless melody, guaranteed to have audiences on their feet and in each others' arms

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...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.

'Thank you for playing at my party, you were amazing, the music was brilliant and you are all very talented. I enjoyed myself singing with you."
Madonna (for her birthday party in Cannes France)

"I love your music, you were absolutely fabulous, you made the evening."
Annie Lennox (NYE at the Wolseley)

"...swinging fast … an authentic wall of sound … romantic and distinctly Parisian angle …quite striking and perfect, it all felt rather filmic ...Latin/swing dexterity ...the rhythms were tight and hot. Benoit Viellefon and His Orchestra definitely reside within the cabaret end of jazz but their combined individual skill almost makes them a crossover ensemble."
- Jeanie Barton - London Jazz

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Louis Armstrong
trumpet and vocals
Charlie Christian
guitar, electric
Nat King Cole
piano and vocals
Barney Kessel
guitar, electric
Benoit Viellefon & His Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestra
Benoit Viellefon & his Hot Club
band / ensemble / orchestra

Contact

Management and booking

Bookings and Management

Benoit Viellefon

Concerts

  Fri, May 10
London, UK
BENOIT VIELLEFON (Trio) at NIGHTJAR...
Nightjar Carnaby
Fri, May 10. 9:00 pm
  Sat, May 11
London, UK
BENOIT VIELLEFON (Quartet) at NIGHTJAR...
Nightjar
Sat, May 11. 9:00 pm
  Sun, May 12
London, UK
BENOIT VIELLEFON (Hot Club) at RONNIE...
Ronnie Scott's
Sun, May 12. 9:00 pm
  Sun, May 12
London, UK
Benoit Viellefon
Upstairs At Ronnie Scott’s
Sun, May 12. 9:00 pm
  Sat, Jun 8
London, UK
BENOIT VIELLEFON (Quartet) at NIGHTJAR...
Nightjar
Sat, Jun 8. 9:00 pm
  Fri, Jun 14
London, UK
BENOIT VIELLEFON (Trio) at NIGHTJAR...
Nightjar Carnaby
Fri, Jun 14. 9:00 pm
  Sat, Jun 15
  Sun, Jun 16

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