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.

During the late 70’s, Colette worked at the Village Vanguard, which was a vital time for jazz in New York. “My three and a half years at the Vanguard were a wonderful time for me; working there was a great musical education, as night after night I heard music that inspired me. It was later, in the mid 80’s that I fell in love with the Cuban traditions of Son and Charanga”.

Since the late 1970’s, Colette has been performing internationally with her own band, as well as with other artists and has produced four albums as a bandleader. 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).

Her other releases include First Cause (2004), Querencia (2010), Incarnate Encarna (2014), Heaven and Earth (Cielo Y Tierra) (2017) and her brand new album is the just-released Earth Rebirth.

1. Earth Rebirth (6:36)
2. Campiña (4:31)
3. El Raton (6:05)
4. Ni Contigo Ni Sin Ti (6:52)
5. Reincarnation of a Lovebird (8:26)
6. Throw It Away (5:16)

Music is far reaching, and its influence transcends national boundaries, politics and governments. Beyond all borders, music brings people together and thus Colette’s mantra flows freely throughout this album from the off, which is the glistening, shimmeringly vibrant, titular Earth Rebirth, the gently fervent, atmospherically-charged old Cuban classic, Campiña and the low slung rhythms found within El Raton.

In these polarized times of extreme unrest, upheaval and possibility for real change, it is essential to focus on what unites us. Love is the source, center and destiny of our experiences. Whatever our struggles in the present moment are, they can’t truly touch the larger eternal beings that we are. Which are yet another set of beloved truths that Colette weaves seamlessly within the lyrics of her music and so next we get the sumptuous hipsway of Ni Contigo Ni Sin Ti, the dancefloor swirl of Charlie Mingus’ Reincarnation of a Lovebird, the recording rounding out on her effervescent rendition of the Abbey Lincoln track, Throw It Away.

www.colettemichaan.com