BIO

A first generation American, Native New Yorker of Egyptian-Syrian heritage, Colette Michaan is a NYC based flutist who has been influenced, inspired and musically informed by music traditions of North and West Africa, Cuba, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.

“I feel like the flute chose me and called me. As a young girl of 12, I heard an Eric Dolphy recording on the radio and was mesmerized by his flute playing; a seed had been planted. From then on, I immersed myself in listening, studying and transcribing the jazz and latin solos of flute players such as Eric Dolphy, James Moody, Frank Wess, Hubert Laws, Joe Farrell, Yusef Lateef, Arcaño, Richard Egües, José Fajardo, and Johnny Pacheco, who among others, continued to inspire me, as did flute traditions from all over the world.”

During the late 70’s, Colette worked on the staff at the Village Vanguard, experiencing a vital chapter in jazz history in New York. Her three and a half years at the Vanguard were a meaningful part of her musical education, where night after night she was exposed to the music that inspired her own development. It was in the mid 80’s that Colette began focusing on the traditions of Cuban Son and Charanga. 

Since the late 1970’s, Colette has been actively performing both locally and internationally with her own band, as well as with other artists. She has produced four albums as a bandleader (see discography). In addition, Colette has recorded with Harry Whitaker on the album “One Who Sees All Things” (2008), with Kaissa on “Looking There” (2005), and with Richard Bona on “Scenes From My Life” (1999).

Over the years, on each of the four CD’s that Colette has produced, she chose to record original compositions as well as many classic compositions that she loves. Her intention is to create beauty, to fill the music with as much life as possible, enthusiasm, emotion and passion. Her work is always inspired by something traditional, something original, and something new. The completion of each album has been a milestone in her ongoing process.

From 1999 - 2002, Colette was an adjunct faculty member of the Jazz Department at the New School in NYC.

From 2005 until 2007, she was the flutist in Radio Soleil’s “Charanga Soleil” performing at venues such as SOB’s, Gonzalez and Gonzalez, and NJPAC.

From 2007 to 2015, Colette performed weekly with “Nu’ Guajiro/Nu’DLux” co-led by Aaron Halva and Jainardo Batista at NYC clubs Oliva, Boca Chica and Cienfuegos.

In 2012, she performed with “Flor de Toloache” co-led by Mireya Ramos and Shae Fiol at various NYC venues including El Museo del Barrio, Rockwood, and Barbes; as well as appearances on NBC and Telemundo.

From April 2017 to March 2020, Colette performed weekly at Brooklyn’s “33Lafayette” with Chino Pons and Grupo Irek, in addition to concerts at the Jersey City Jazz Festival, Wave Hill, the Roxy, the Django and more.

Since Mid March 2020, all ongoing dates have been suspended due to the pandemic. During this performance pause, Colette continues to deepen her musical explorations as she prepares for her next recording.

“I am a traveler, and I’ve always been cross cultural in my origins, history, identity, relations and resonances. Since the late 70’s, my love of playing in NYC and with local musicians wherever I travel, has always been meaningful to me and brought me to the heart of the culture. Playing music with the hill tribe musicians in Northern Thailand, Minangkabau  Saluang musicians in Sumatra, Iban tribe players in Borneo, Rajasthani desert and classical musicians in India, Suling flute players in Indonesia, Mbalax bands in Senegal, Gnawa and Andalusi music in Morocco, Calypso and Soca bands in the West Indies, and Son bands in Cuba, informed my development in so many ways. The power of the arts to engage people across borders is undeniable. I love connecting through music and being part of a creative process which lights up something in the listeners that is uplifting, even if only for a moment.” -Colette

Video

Recordings

Press

Re: Earth Rebirth — “The title tune opens this production with Colette’s flute flying like a wild bird above the powerful rhythm section and leading the way. On the wings of this music, I am transported to a place of wild open spaces and indigenous people. Michaan’s flute inspires your senses to come alive.” -Dee Dee McNeil/Musical Memoirs

Re: Heaven and Earth ~ Cielo y Tierra — "Colette Michaan performs with consummate artistry, blending superior control and tonal lucidity with a cohesive sense of line and motion. This music could hardly be better served. Ms Michaan’s dynamic range enables the music to soar, unfettered into a rarefied realm. The flutist creates a unique melodic magic all her own.” -Raul de Gama/Latin Jazz Network

"Heaven and Earth es el cuarto disco de la flautista y compositora Colette Michaan. Luego de sus maravillosos First Cause (2004), Querencia (2010) e Incarnate (2014). De origen egipcio, Michaan nació en New York y ha desarrollado un discurso musical ecléctico y cautivador con un ensamble conformado con algunos de los mejores músicos de la actualidad en la escena del latin-jazz y la salsa."  -DJ El Chino/Solar Latin Club

Re: Incarnate Encarna — “Colette Michaan’s sound is bold and exemplary and I can hardly wait to hear what she will do next with her ardent, dazzling virtuosity and heartfelt emotion.” -Raul De Gama/Latin Jazz Network

“Flutist/composer Colette Michaan’s third release brings a refreshing take to the music industry.” -The Birmingham Times

“Le son montuno de Cuba et le latin jazz de cette formation dirigée par la talentueuse Colette Michaan ont trouvé refuge en Afrique via les porte-étendards des différents segments du patrimoine musical Gnaoui pour enchanter un public éclectique.” -L’opinion

“Oh yeah. This gorgeous session is an exquisite blend of hard driving charanga, montuno, Latin jazz and Arabian influenced dance music. Colette Michaan, a first generation American of Egyptian descent, who was born and raised in New York City, has provided us with an unexpected gem for the New Year. Think Orchestra Rytmo Africa-Cubana (Alfredo de la Fe, Nestor Torres) meets Africando meets Rabih Abou-Khalil.” -EL Watusi

“La pasión por la música de Colette esta impregnada en esta producción la cual nos remonta a la época de la Charanga y nos hace recordar a grandes como Pacheco, Alfredo de la Fe, y Néstor Torres.” -Ritmomania Entertainment

“The Colette Michaan Quintet graced the Madison Jazz Series with a swirling, revelatory performance culled from the realms of folklore, festival, street, and deep wells of universal spirituality. The generosity of spirit and joyful camaraderie within this band was lavishly contagious. Michaan repeatedly alluded to her mission to mine wisdom and peace from music, and that was manifested in prayerful meditations as well as volcanic torso-shakers. On many of the son numbers Michaan’s flute dabbed with the beneficent authority of a pointillist painter. A dab here, a dab there, coalesced into insistent statements that rode above the rhythm. Her flute served to lasso runaway congas and wayward piano lines, and corral them. There was mandate in her voicing.Whether in her whistling registers, breathy modes, or pugnacious pokes, a plain-spokenness summoned our attention.” -Joe Major/Albany Jazz April 2016

“Colette Michaan is one of a growing number of artists who are combining jazz with a variety of world genres to produce music of great freshness and broad appeal. It takes a skillful hand to pull it off, and Michaan has done just that, producing a recording of both panache and sensitivity. Michaan has taken the Cuban sensibilities and techniques possessed by these musicians and blended them with her unique voice on the flute to produce jazz with a tinge of both Latin rhythm and Eastern spices and perfumes. Michaan excels, contributing precise leads and solo work that shows off her sense of adventure with an appealing clarity of execution. Down Beat Magazine has a poll that includes the category Talent Deserving Wider Recognition. If anyone deserves wider recognition it is Colette Michaan.” Peter Westbrook/the Flute Journal

Contact

colettemichaan@gmail.com