BIO

David Linx

David’s career took off in 1986 with A Lover’s Question, featuring writer James Baldwin reciting poetry over music composed by David and Pierre Van Dormael. This project, recorded with Steve Coleman, Slide Hampton, and Deborah Brown, earned international acclaim in jazz circles. Originally released in 1991, it was reissued in 2000 by Label Bleu/Harmonia Mundi, accompanied by a book of Baldwin’s poems and stories. In 1992, David partnered with pianist-composer Diederik Wissels to form a groundbreaking vocal-piano duo that continues to record and tour worldwide. Their work has redefined contemporary vocal jazz, with their songs featured in the Real Book by Sher Music and recorded by jazz greats like Sheila Jordan, Maria João, and Norma Winstone. They have collaborated with esteemed artists, including Paolo Fresu on Heartland (Universal Jazz). David’s 2000 album L’Instant d’Après, produced by Craig Street (known for work with Lizz Wright and Cassandra Wilson), received widespread acclaim. In 2003, Wissels signed with Harmonia Mundi for This Time, marking their duo’s 10th anniversary with performances at top jazz festivals such as Vienne, Marciac, and Montréal. In 2004, David and Wissels collaborated with vocalists Fay Claassen and Maria Pia de Vito on One Heart, Three Voices, leading to extensive touring. Beyond performing, David has been the head of the jazz vocal department at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 1995 and teaches at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Siena Jazz University. His film compositions include O Herói, which won Sundance’s top prize. In 2005, he sang Belgium’s national anthem before the King and Queen and 800,000 spectators for the country’s 175th anniversary.