Arthur H

Born Arthur Higelin in Paris in 1966, Arthur H showed minimal interest in formal education during his teenage years. At the age of 16, he embarked on a three-month sailing trip around the Antilles. He later pursued music studies in Boston for 18 months before returning to Paris, where he began performing in various musical groups. An early performance at the Festival of Bourges was not successful, prompting him to focus on refining his musical approach. Influenced by artists like Tom Waits and Thelonious Monk, Arthur H began performing in December 1988 at a small Paris venue called the Old Grid with bassist Brad Scott. These initial performances were well-received, leading to a month-long engagement at the club. The addition of drummer Paul Jothy further enhanced his sound, drawing comparisons to Boris Vian and Serge Gainsbourg.

From 1989 to 1994, Arthur H embarked on extensive tours, performing over 700 shows and selling 150,000 albums globally. His debut album, “Arthur H,” was released in September 1989. The 1990s and early 2000s saw a consistent output of work. In 1996, he released “Trouble-Fete” on Polydor Music, followed by “Cool Jazz” and “Fete-Trouble” in 1997. “Bachibouzouk” was released in 1998, and “Et Le Bachibau Band en Chair et En” the subsequent year. His sixth album in five years, “For Mrs. X,” was released in the summer of 2000. Throughout his career, Arthur H has demonstrated a commitment to artistic development, exploring diverse musical influences from jazz and blues to Middle Eastern music and tango.

Arthur H continued to evolve his sound and live performances. In 2001, he participated in “Le Cabaret Imprudent” with “Le Cirque Cahin-caha.” The 2002 album “Piano Solo” featured live studio recordings, primarily solo interpretations of his previous songs. This was followed by “Négresse Blanche” in 2003, an album dedicated to notable women. His album “Adieu Tristesse” in 2005 achieved commercial success and featured collaborations with his father and Matthieu Chedid. In 2006, he published the book “Onirique attaque” and composed the soundtrack for the film “L’homme qui rêvait d’un enfant.” His 2008 album, “L’Homme du Monde,” received the Pop/Rock Album of the Year award at La Victoire de la Musique in 2009, reinforcing his standing as a significant figure in French music.