Arthur H

Arthur Higelin (born 27 March 1966), better known under his stage name Arthur H (IPA: [aʁtyʁ ɑʃ]), is a French singer-songwriter and pianist. He is best known in France for his live performances—four of his albums were recorded live.

Life and career

He is the son of the French singer Jacques Higelin and Nicole Courtois. He has a younger half brother, Ken Higelin, a stage and film actor, theatre director and music video director; and a half sister, Izïa Higelin, a singer.

After traveling in the West Indies, Higelin studied music in Boston, Massachusetts before returning to Paris.

In his home city he developed his eclectic but highly personal musical style, drawing on such influences as Thelonious Monk, Serge Gainsbourg, the Sex Pistols, jazz, blues, Middle Eastern music and the tango. He first performed in 1988 in clubs in Paris, as leader of a trio with bassist Brad Scott and drummer Paul Jothy.

His first album, Arthur H (1990), combined rhythmic experimentation and bal-musette elements with a vocal style that has been compared to Tom Waits. He toured widely around this time, particularly in France and Japan, adding a fourth band member, Jon Handelsman (saxophone). They produced a second album, Bachibouzouk (1992).

In early 1993, Higelin and his band did a six-week season at the Magic Mirrors, an antique circus big top. They later produced it as a touring show and recorded it on the live album En chair et en os.

In 1996, he released the album Trouble Fête, following which he performed a season at the Gymnase in Paris. The live album Fête Trouble (1997) included some tracks from these shows as well as others recorded on tour in Africa. He toured the United States and Canada in 1998.