Born in Antwerp, Nabou Claerhout discovered her passion for jazz at just nine years old, when she first picked up the trombone. Since then, she has emerged as one of the leading voices in contemporary jazz from the Benelux.

From her early years, Nabou had the opportunity to collaborate with internationally acclaimed artists, including Bert Joris, John Ruocco, Dave Holland, and Dave Douglas, dedicating herself to perfecting her craft and solidifying her place in the jazz scene.

After a formative period at the Royal Academy of Music in London, she completed her studies at Codarts in Rotterdam in 2018, marking the beginning of a dynamic and evolving artistic journey.

Soon after, she founded her quartet N∆BOU, whose debut EP Hubert (2019) established her as a key figure in Belgium’s new jazz generation. The quartet’s debut album, You Know (2021), deepened that impact, earning international praise and affirming her distinctive voice and sound.

In parallel, Nabou’s artistry led her to form the Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout, following her 2021 Jong Jazztalent Gent award. Her 2023 release Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout on W.E.R.F. Records, a bold project featuring five trombones and special guest Robin Eubanks, highlighted her mission to transfer the love for the trombone in new and powerful ways.

Currently serving as a master coach at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, Nabou continues to inspire a new generation of musicians while expanding her own artistic reach. In 2025, she joined Edition Records, opening a new chapter in her creative evolution.

Her third quartet album, Indigo (2026), marks a striking new phase in her creative evolution, presenting a refreshed N∆BOU line-up with Trui Amerlinck (double bass), Gijs Idema (electric guitar) and Daniel Jonkers (drums).

The album explores change, renewal and shifting human connections, building on the strong foundations N∆BOU has established in Belgium and the Netherlands while signalling Claerhout’s growing international reach.