Biography
Helen Gillet is a Belgian-born cellist, singer, composer, and improviser celebrated for her genre-defying approach to music. Raised in Singapore, Chicago, and Wisconsin, Gillet’s multicultural upbringing exposed her to a diverse array of musical traditions from an early age. She began her formal studies in classical cello performance, ultimately earning her master’s degree from Loyola University in New Orleans in 2004. Drawn to the city’s vibrant and eclectic music scene, she made New Orleans her home in 2002, quickly immersing herself in its jazz, funk, and experimental communities.
Gillet’s career is marked by her innovative use of live looping technology, allowing her to layer cello, vocals, and percussive elements in real time to create richly textured solo performances. Her musical style is a unique fusion of avant-garde jazz, French chansons, funk, folk, alternative rock, and classical, often incorporating improvisational techniques inspired by her studies in North Indian Hindustani music. She has performed at major festivals and venues worldwide, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, and has collaborated with a wide range of artists across genres. Gillet is recognized not only for her technical mastery and improvisational prowess but also for her role in expanding the cello’s presence in jazz and experimental music.
Fun Facts
- Helen Gillet is known for her engaging solo performances, which often include storytelling and jokes translated from her French repertoire.
- She is a self-described 'surrealist-archeologist,' exploring both electronic and acoustic sound worlds.
- Gillet’s first major solo performance after her mother’s passing was an emotional show in Chicago, where she allowed herself to openly grieve on stage, supported by friends and family in the audience.
- She once played in a tango band with a Sunday night residency on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans early in her career.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Nancy Lesh Kulkarni - Studied Hindustani (North Indian) cello improvisation, which deeply influenced Gillet’s approach to improvisation and musical curiosity. (Inspired the Indian raga introduction to 'Quande Je Marche' and Gillet’s broader improvisational style.) [Late 1990s–early 2000s]
Key Collaborators
- James Singleton - Jazz bassist who invited Gillet to join his jazz quartet, providing early encouragement and professional opportunities in New Orleans. (Gillet Singleton Duo, various live performances and recordings.) [2000s–present]
- Aurora Nealand - Frequent collaborator in New Orleans’ experimental and jazz scenes. (Live performances, collaborative projects.) [2010s–present]
- Jeff Coffin - Saxophonist and composer; collaborated on the album 'Let it Shine' and other projects. ('Let it Shine' (2021), live performances.) [2021]
- Wazozo - Band led by Gillet, blending French chanson and experimental music. (Wazozo: Newton Circus, live performances.) [2010s]
- Piety Records - Studio collaborations with many New Orleans musicians, shaping her sound and approach. (Various studio recordings.) [2006–2011]
Artists Influenced
- No widely documented individual artists - Gillet is recognized for expanding the role of the cello in jazz and improvisational music, inspiring other cellists and improvisers, particularly women, to explore similar paths. (N/A) [2010s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ReBelle | 2023-04-07 | Album |
| Bangkok Silver | 2015-02-24 | Album |
| Let It Shine | 2021-03-19 | Album |
| Helkiase | 2018-07-06 | Album |
| Helen Gillet | 2012-09-23 | Album |
| Ferdinand | 2013-09-27 | Album |
| Running of the Bells | 2011-03-12 | Album |
| Running of the Bells | 2011-02-28 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Ride Into the Sun (Bangkok Silver)
- Renard (Bangkok Silver)
- Lettre à Kissinger (ReBelle)
- Les loups (ReBelle)
- Les vrais amis (ReBelle)
- À la brunante (ReBelle)
- Le Deserteur (Bangkok Silver)
- Atchafalaya (Helen Gillet)
- Eternelle (ReBelle)
- Repondez-Moi (Bangkok Silver)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Helen Gillet has been played 7 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2025 | 00:04 | Non Demandefrom Bangkok Silver | The Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis | |
| Nov 20, 2025 | 12:39 | DQTSMfrom REBELLE | New Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici | |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 22:19 | DQTSMfrom REBELLE | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman | |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 13:31 | I LIVE OFF YOU | New Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici | |
| Oct 31, 2025 | 00:57 | Laisse tomberfrom Rebelle | Midnight Music | |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 08:47 | Hidden In This Efrom Helen Gillet | The Morning Setw/ Stuart Hall | |
| Sep 29, 2025 | 06:37 | demainfrom rebelle | The Morning Setw/ Stuart Hall |