Shaunette Hildabrand graduated Magna Cum Laude from Midwestern State University in 1985 and continued her vocal studies in New York City until 1991 when she moved to Europe. She is active as both a classical and jazz singer, but it is especially in the European jazz scene that she has established popularity among both the audiences and musicians. Besides being the featured vocalist for Frank Roberscheuten’s Hiptett and the Echoes of Swing Orchestra, Shaunette has recently formed a trio under her name. During her career, she has performed with such musicians as Franz Jackson, Truck Parham, Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen, Eddie Locke and Hazy Osterwald at major jazz festivals in Europe and can be heard on various recordings with the leading traditional jazz musicians of Europe. In the recently published work “Growing Up With Jazz” from Oxford University Press, writer Royal Stokes interviews 24 jazz musicians about their early influences, among them Eubie Blake, Jane Monheit and Shaunette Hildabrand. She is an invited instructor at master classes and workshops for both jazz and classical music in Europe and the United States.
Shaunette has long concentrated on Billie Holiday’s singing style and has achieved a remarkable proximity. This has taught her much: for one thing she has acquired a huge, diverse repertoire of fantastic songs far from all the clichés associated with female vocalists. In the meantime, however, she has freed herself from this powerful initial role model and just sings naturally in her own personal style, embracing influences from many other great vocalists. She has great swing, exquisite phrasing and taste, and sings immaculately.