It was to the sound of J.S. Bach's “Well-Tempered Clavier” that Maël Jacques Idris Mercier

was born in Braine-Alleud, Belgium, on August 17, 2004, to a North-African, Kabyle

mother and a European, Belgian jazz musician as a father. As children, he and his little

brother grew up with their saxophonist father as their only parent. They therefore follow

him on the roads and are constantly bathed in music.

​

He remembers nights he spent trying to fall asleep in the touring minibus, straining his

ears to listen to concerts outdoors in the south of France.

In his memory also remain the hundreds of performances of his father and grandfather,

telling and playing the history of jazz, him and his brother holding the bar in exchange for a

packet of crisps and a fresh soda as pay of the evening.

​

After several private music lessons, Maël opted for the piano and left the academy after

two years of classical studies. At the age of twelve, he immersed himself in musical

humanities at the famous Kunsthumaniora in Brussels. There, he meets his peers and can

finally develop his passion for jazz. Then Wynton Marsalis noticed Maël at the age of 14,

and will later also be responsible for the strong relationship he has with his mentor

Nduduzo Makhathini with whom he regularly gets lesson from. Maël already obtained his

secondary school diploma at the age of sixteen and attends the two Brussels

Conservatories. There are classes with a.o. Eric Legnini, Nathalie Loriers and Vincent

Bruyninckx.

​

Maël successfully graduated from the Bachelor degree at the Koninklijk Conservatorium

van Brussel at the age of 18. While now, Maël is doing his second master studies at the

internationally renowned conservatory of Basel, JazzCampus, he is also touring the world,

playing in NYC for the opening of Kenny Werner’s concert for example, or tour in China

with his band, or in Europe where he produced himself in Dînant Jazz Festival feat. Chris

Cheek in July 2026.

​

Maël has got or gets regularly lessons with Aaron Parks, Micah Thomas, Shaï Maestro,

Lionel Loueke, Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Chris Cheek, ...

His debut album, artistically directed by Aaron Parks, will be available on all platforms

begin Fall 2026.