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Stéphane Mercier

Coming from a family surrounded by music and musicians, Stéphane Mercier studied different instruments early on before focusing on the saxophone and the flute, composition and arrangement. After studying at Berklee College of Music in the mid-90’s, he intensively toured with Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, B.Connection, Exile Society...then moved to Brooklyn, NY (95-02), where he played and/or recorded with a.o. Aaron Goldberg, Chris Cheek, Avishai Cohen, Randy Brecker, Jeff Ballard, Ingrid Jensen, Matt Penman,… Stéphane moved to Paris for a couple of years before Brussels, where he currently resides. He is now leading his own quartet (feat. Nicola Andrioli, Nicolas Thys and Dré Pallemaerts), the Jazz Station Big Band (with guests such as Grégoire Maret, Jason Rebello, Emil Vickliki, Ivan Paduart…), BKonexion (feat. Napoleon Da Legend, Nejma Nefertiti, Vin Vitou and Izame Siva), the Damon Brown & Stéphane Mercier Quintet, Quantum Stereo (feat. Stella Angelika), and plays and composes for Brooklyn-based BZ Sounds (feat. Ben Zwerin, Benny Benack and Lionel Loueke). Stéphane is also a regular member of the Christian Brenner Quartet, Marylène Corro, the Dinant Jazz Orchestra and State of Time. His discography is featured on several labels: Birdland Sessions, Fresh Sound/New Talent, Mogno Music, Igloo, Quetzal and Hypnote Records.

Stephane Mercier: New Saxophone Talent

by AAJ Staff
July 26, 2022

This article was originally published at All About Jazz in December 2001. Belgian alto saxophonist Stephane Mercier tolerates no boundaries. “I listened to some cheesy things when I was young--I don't mind. If I like something, I just put it," he proclaims about his approach to music. A new talent in the jazz world, Mercier just released his first album, Flor De Luna, this year on Fresh Sound Records. Already, Mercier displays maturity as a songwriter and conceptualist. ...

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Album Review

Stephane Mercier: Flor De Luna

Read "Flor De Luna" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
October 1, 2001

Diversity of experience supplies a foundation for creative innovation. Belgian alto saxophonist Stephane Mercier confirms this axiom on his debut recording for the Fresh Sound/New Talent label.

Mercier entered the American jazz scene in 1992 when he moved from Brussels to Boston. Since then he’s straddled both sides of the Atlantic touring and residing in North America and Europe. This recording finds the saxophonist ensconced in the Big Apple and collaborating with an international cast of sidemen with whom he’s ...

148

Album Review