Henk de Laat

double bass player / singer / composer / vocal coach / teacher

"De Laat draws beautiful melodic bass lines. He follows and enforces at the same time, interacts at lightning speed and rightfully exhibits his amazing vocal capabilities."

-Marc Van de Walle – Cd-review de Laat & Schreurs - Muziekmozaïek 3 - July 2014

"A song on which bassist Henk de Laat also shows that he is more than master of the art of 'scatting'. Delicious."

-Rootsville, Wannes in Jazz - 14 September 2017

"The Belgian double bassist Henk de Laat made an impression with his flawless intonation of the Arab maqams that are not exactly familiar to a Westerner. Down to the smallest melisms, he knew how to follow the melody line from Abdulrasol's clattering qanun (zither) perfectly."

-Ton Maas, de Volkskrant – 29 September 2008

“Who's Henk de Laat? He is simply one of the most dazzling young vocalists in the European jazz scene. And one of the best bass players too. Henk de Laat is a jazz & bossa nova artist who combines a distinctive style and the right technical equipment to achieve a level of musical imagination which is rarely found in the work of a single artist. Henk de Laat is very well on his way to becoming one of the most accomplished vocalists & bass players in the modern music scene."

-João da Penha – O Globo Brasil - 6 February 2006

Welcome

to my website!

I want to thank all the people that supported me in my new journey after an accident I had in September 2017.
Due to this accident, I lost about everything, my job (as a musician, composer and teacher) that I did with heart and soul for almost 40 years, my self-esteem, a good income and so much more.
Every day it is a challenge not to give in to sadness, but still trying to stay positive and try to live a full life, even if this fight is sometimes unfair (a long struggle with the insurance company, surviving with a very small income a.s.o.).
I am very proud of my new website designed by my son Michaël. This website represents a beautiful life as a musician and a teacher for which I’m grateful,full of joy, a full life, as a dear friend Manu Alphonse in India said.

Thank you all for visiting this site, and don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Thanks!

Freedom Tour

A project in coöperation with Manimaran, a master parai player from Chennai India.

Vocal Improvisation Workshops

Come and make new discoveries what is possible with your unique voice.

Jazz For Change

Jazz for Change is a project to create a positive change in this turbulent world.

de Laat & Schreurs

The combination of the acoustic piano, the refined lyricism of the double bass and the vocal abilities of de Laat & Schreurs

Enrique Tarde

A sparkling world of latin-jazz

"De Laat draws beautiful melodic bass lines. He follows and enforces at the same time, interacts at lightning speed and rightfully exhibits his amazing vocal capabilities."

-Marc Van de Walle – Cd-review de Laat & Schreurs - Muziekmozaïek 3 - July 2014

"A song on which bassist Henk de Laat also shows that he is more than master of the art of 'scatting'. Delicious."

-Rootsville, Wannes in Jazz - 14 September 2017

-Ton Maas, de Volkskrant – 29 September 2008

-João da Penha – O Globo Brasil - 6 February 2006

Video's

Rhythm is a Journey - a musical train ride in Tamil Nadu India

Enrique Tarde - Não Tenho Nada a Perder

Enrique Tarde live @ the 12th Floor Jazzclub Antwerp

Enrique Tarde - A Longa Espera

About

Henk de Laat

Henk performs in a most personal and spontaneous way and uses both the subtle expressive and unique qualities of the human voice. In other words, he plays the way he sings and sings the way he plays. In this way he mastered scat singing. During many journeys around the globe as a jazz musician, Henk adapted several different musical styles and cultures in his way of playing and singing that makes him unique. He can blend in in several music cultures like a chameleon in a landscape without losing his own identity. Rhythm is his thing.

He lost his musical heart in Brazil the culture that influenced his music in a remarkable way. Also India, Cuba, Argentina, Turkey and the Arab countries had their influence. Please check out recordings of his groups Enrique Tarde, de Laat & Schreurs, and many other projects that he played with, like Osama Abdulrasol, Melike, Jokke Schreurs and many more.