Stéphane Mercier
©Photography / JC Thibaut
alto sax, flute
Belgium
Belgian jazz saxophonist/flutist heavyweight Stéphane Mercier grew up in a family surrounded by music and musicians. He studied different instruments early on, before focusing on saxophone and flute, as well as composition and arrangement.
After studying at Berklee College of Music mid-90’s, he toured in Europe with Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, B.Connection, then moved to New-York (95-02), where he played and/or recorded with Aaron Goldberg, Chris Cheek, Avishai Cohen, Jeff Ballard, Ingrid Jensen, Matt Penman, …
He recorded for several labels: Birldand Sessions, Fresh Sound/New Talent, Mogno Music, Igloo Records, Quetzal and Hypnote Records.
Mercier moved back to Europe in 2002 (Paris then Brussels, where he currently resides).
He currently leads the Jazz Station Big Band (with guests such as Grégoire Maret, Jason Rebello, Emil Vickliki,…), B.Connection (feat. Napoleon Da Legend), Damon Brown/Stéphane Mercier Quintet, Quantum Stereo (feat. Stella Angelika), and plays and composes for BZ Sounds (feat. Benny Benack).
Stéphane Mercier published a series of original interviews he conducted with masters such as Quincy Jones, Toots Thielemans, Ivan Lins, Kenny Garrett,…
“…kind of like Lee Konitz with an edge of Dolphy…good time, great sound, wonderful melodic sense and really knows how to listen”. Mike Zwerin (International Herald Tribune)
“Lately, he gained even more maturity and explores a very personal sound in filiation with Coltrane”. Charles Loos (pianist, composer)
Artist on GAM Records
New Release – Mixology live – out Now!
“Mixology live” by Stéphane Mercier Belgian Jazz All Stars live at the Tournai Jazz Festival is an extraordinary 8-piece set comprised of wide-ranging original compositions and a couple of newly-arranged standard songs.
This is an exceptional group of individuals, allowing for unusual combinations of instrumentations, styles and strong personalities all focusing on one common goal: playing great music together.
It features the talents of internationally renowned Belgian music masters: David Linx, Charles Loos, Jeanfrançois Prins, Nathalie Loriers, Vincent Bruyninckx, Fabrice Alleman, Daniel Stokart, Toine Thys, Paolo Loveri, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, Nicolas Thys, and Bruno Castellucci.
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