Bass player and vocalist Henk de Laat studied with honours at the Rotterdam Conservatory where he graduated as a master in jazz and contemporary music in 1987. He completed his classical bass studies in 1988. Then he studied vocals with Deborah Brown and Ge Titulaer for two years. Later he developed his voice with the aid of Henry Chef d'Horge from Paris who taught him a natural and organic way of singing.
He is currently in a vocal study program with Rhiannon, teacher at the Berklee College of Music, Boston.
In 1980 Henk started his musical career with a band called X-tra, playing ska-music. Later on he joined a group called Casino, accompanying Dutch and artists from abroad. A versatile accompanist he played with top-ranked vocalists such as Shirley Bassey, Deborah Brown, Marjorie Barnes, Dee Daniels and with exquisite jazz instrumentalists as Bob Minzer and Bob Malach.
For two years he toured with Denise Jannah with whom he played among others at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. He played with "La Corda", a unique trio with guitarplayers Peter Mingaars and Ben Boogaard.

In 1996 his first cd „But Beautiful" was released. It contains jazz standards and bossa nova tunes all for which he got a warm recommendation by harmonica legend Toots Thielemans.
He composed for several international theater companies and played with Mike Zinzen, Walpurgis, Pieter Embrechts, Jokke Schreurs, Carlos Diaz, Sabien Tiels, the Euro Trio featuring Dirk Van der Linden and Dirk Raufeisen, and „Gezien, Gezegd en Gezongen" featuring Yvonne Walter, Antje de Boeck and Els Dottermans.
He also participated in a major theater production from HETPALEIS called „Water, Lucht, Aarde en Vuur" and "Nachtmuziek" with trumpet player Sam Vloemans.

Nowadays he is active in his own projects the new Enrique Tarde group, and the duo de Laat & Schreurs with pianist Dirk Schreurs.
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.

During many journeys around the globe Henk has lost his musical heart in Brasil, the culture of which has influenced his music in a remarkable way. His new CD „Breaking through the shadows" is a fine collection of Brazilian inspired songs that were recorded in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, and Italy.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
(see top of page for main discography)

But Beautiful - Henk Delaat (The Netherlands) EMI/Invitation Records Fine Hours - Euro Trio (Germany) Buenanmbo - Carlos Diaz (Argentina/Germany) Wives and Lovers - Frits Bayens Big Band (The Netherlands) Trio - Jokke Schreurs Trio (Belgium) Carving up time - Robert jarvis (England) Up on the snowy mountains - Hans Helewaut (Belgium) Cormposiet -Diversen kunstenaarsproject (The Netherlands) De Overkant - Sabien Tiels Water,lucht, aarde en vuur - Sam Vloemans HETPALEIS Nachtmuziek - Sam Vloemans HETPALEIS Bord du Nord Majar - Melike Osama Abdulrasol Flashes & Crashes - Mike Zinzen Swinging in the Swamp - Ron van Stratum Breaking through the Shadows - Enrique Tarde