Fay Claassen
Biography Fay Claassen
Fay Claassen
The Dutch power woman of jazz, Fay Claassen, is one of the best-known and most diverse singers in The Netherlands and belongs to the European top. Fay is a musical phenomenon, known for her elegance and delicacy; a sophisticated singer who does not shy away from crossovers and other genres. She knows how to move her audiences with ease with her endearing voice.
In May 2023 the new album, Symphonic Stories, is released in collaboration with the classical Residentie Orkest from The Hague. Fay performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival for nine times, and the vocalist is also frequently invited as a guest teacher at conservatories, such as Amsterdam and Antwerp.
Fay Claassen received many prestigious (inter)national music prizes. In 2022 she won her fourth Edison Jazz Award (the Dutch Grammy), making her the only Dutch contemporary vocalist to have this to her name. She also received a Golden Record and the Chet Baker Award. Fay is a regular guest with the most renowned big bands and orchestras, from the Metropole Orkest, Residentie Orkest and Brussels Jazz Orchestra to Danish Radio Big Band and WDR Big Band.
The list of renowned festivals, venues and jazz legends and other musical heroes with whom Fay has collaborated is long: from Toots Thielemans, Mike Stern, Bob Brookmeyer, Vince Mendoza, Paquito D'Rivera, Tom Harrell, James Carter, David Linx, to Dutch greats such as Eric Vloeimans, Benjamin Herman, Ilja Reijngoud and Peter Beets.
In 2022, Fay celebrated her 25th anniversary with the 10-part (!) album Fay Live, with previously unreleased live registrations. For this album she received an Edison in the Document category. This special collector’s item contains live recordings ranging from Fay with various top orchestras, such as the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, the Metropole Orkest and the WDR Big Band. She can also be heard in small line-ups such as with the Dutch favorite pianist Cor Bakker and her own Fay Claassen Band. Various collaborations and guests can also be heard such as Toots Thielemans, Ivan Paduart, Vince Mendoza, Hermine Deurloo and Michael Abene.
Fay will also focus on various new projects in 2023 and 2024, such as with Jakob Helling New Concert Band, Thierry Lang Trio and Orchestra, a tribute to Ann Burton with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw and various albums that will be released.
“Fay Claassen is to singing what Audrey Hepburn was to the movies: elegant and graceful“ - American jazz magazine CADENCE
“Dutch Jazz Diva Fay Claassen is a truly phenomenal singer“ - Latin Jazz Ster Paquito D’Rivera
“Claassen has consistently displayed her qualities, notably her impeccable phrasing and relaxed swing” – Bruce Crowther Jazz Journal, UK
“Claassen knows how to put emotion in her music. There is poetry in her vocal notes. She can sound fragile and melancholic, in interpretations that are always technically high-quality and presented with a rare elegance.” – Amanda Kuyper, NRC Handelsblad
“Fay Claassen sings straight from her heart and knows exactly how to touch the listener deep in their soul”- Cyriel Pluimakers, Jazzenzo
