Micheline Van Hautem

Micheline Van Hautem

Born in Ghent, Belgium, Micheline Van Hautem's passion for music and natural gift for singing carried her far beyond the flat country where she was raised. Her first stop was New York City — a true melting pot of cultures — where she set herself apart by singing primarily in French. With her revue Songs of Jacques Brel, she filled full houses at venues like Manhattan's prestigious Florence Gould Hall.

The show took her repeatedly to the Edinburgh Festival, where she won the coveted Herald Angel Award, and on to Australia, where she again played to packed houses. Back home, she sold out Amsterdam's Concertgebouw to equal acclaim, and the CD version of Songs of Jacques Brel found its way into more than 15,000 homes.

Her travels inspired Micheline to write songs of her own, resulting in her debut solo album, Chocolat — a mix of original compositions and reinterpreted classics, recorded with guitarist and musical partner Erwin van Ligten.

For her next album, La Musique, produced by Van Ligten, she invited Bruno Brel — nephew of "Le Grand Jacques" — to duet on "Marieke." Their collaboration proved so successful it grew into a full tour and joint album, L'esprit de Jacques.

On Crème de la Crème, she offered a surprising collection of songs by David Bowie, Nina Simone, Herman van Veen, and Frank Boeijen — translated into French for the first time.

In 2016, she released Brel & Brass, a brass-driven album with arrangements built around her intensely personal style. Working with bass trombonist Jos Jansen and Belgium's Royal Fanfare Kempenbloei under conductor Ivan Meylemans, she reimagined eleven of Jacques Brel's most beloved chansons in copper. The Brel & Brass live show — always performed with a local orchestra — has since taken the stage more than 160 times.

Then came Shaffy & Brass. Reuniting with Jos Jansen and Ivan Meylemans, and joined by arrangers Peter Habraken, Jan Nellestijn, and Guus Jansen, Micheline brought the flamboyant repertoire of Dutch icon Ramses Shaffy to life with the Harmonie St. Michaël from Thorn — from the roar of brass on "Pastorale" to the sparkle of a full wind orchestra on "Vivre/Laat me."

Micheline's third brass project takes on the repertoire of Rob de Nijs, one of Holland's best-loved voices, known for hits like "Malle Babbe" and "Het werd zomer." Once again, top arrangers are writing custom arrangements especially for her. In tribute to de Nijs, who passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease, a series of fundraiser concerts is being organized in support of Parkinson's research.

www.michelinemusic.com • www.brelandbrass.com