Lou Bennett (May 18, 1926,
Philadelphia – February 10, 1997,
Paris) was an American
jazz organist.
Bennett first played
bebop on piano, but started playing organ in 1956 after hearing
Jimmy Smith. Bennett toured the U.S. with an organ trio between 1957 and 1959, and then moved to Paris in 1960. There he recorded and performed at the Blue Note with
Jimmy Gourley and
Kenny Clarke (as well as
Rene Thomas); he returned to America only once, for the 1964
Newport Jazz Festival. He also recorded in the 1960s with
Philip Catherine,
Shirley Bunnie Foy and
Franco Manzecchi. In the 1980s he played in his own quintet with
Gerard Badini, among others. During this period he also toured extensively throughout Spain, including, Almeria, Barcelona, La Coruna, Segovia, and Madrid.