Band 25/26
Alice Auclair
Dae Bryant
Eliott Knuets
Alice Auclair, born in 2002, is a Swiss artist whose musical journey is defined by her insatiable curiosity and strong creative drive. She began singing at the age of 9, studying vocal technique until she was 18. During these formative years, Alice developed her stage presence through performances that helped her connect with audiences. At 14, she won the Kids Voice Suisse competition, which led to her joining the „Little Dreams Foundation“ and performing alongside Phil Collins at the Montreux Jazz Festival and in Miami. Alice continued her studies at the Gymnase Auguste-Piccard and the École de Jazz et Musique Actuelle (EJMA), where her love for jazz grew, inspiring her to explore improvisation and the technical aspects of the genre. Alongside this, she gained diverse experience as a backing vocalist in folk, funk, and rock projects, and began playing jazz piano to accompany her performances. In 2023, Alice released her debut Neo-soul EP, marking the beginning of her journey as a recording artist and composer. She is currently studying at the prestigious Jazzcampus in Basel, where she works with world-class musicians such as drummer Jorge Rossy, bassist Larry Grenadier, guitarist Lionel Loueke, and vocalist Johnaye Kendrick. She is also a member of the all-female vocal group ‚OWK,‘ which she formed recently. This collaborative project allows Alice and her bandmates to compose and arrange together, with concerts planned for the coming year. The group offers Alice a dynamic and creative space to experiment with vocal arrangements and share musical ideas. Through her ongoing studies and musical projects, Alice is continuously refining her artistic identity. She composes frequently, blending influences from folk, contemporary jazz, and other genres. Her music is driven by her passion for improvisation, emotional expression, and pushing the creative boundaries of her work.
Dea Bryant was raised in Harlem, NYC, DeSean (Dae) Bryant had an artistic upbringing consisting of public speaking, philosophical writings, and music. With a strong foundation in the church, Dae taught themself to play drums at the age of 7 and was drumming for the church by 12. While initially rooted in gospel music, Dae eventually gravitated toward heavy metal, drawing inspiration from the band Slipknot and the late drummer Joey Jordison, whose approach to drumming left a lasting mark. With an early love for philosophy, physics, and literature, Dae began to explore the deep history of Black American music, even weaving it into their research for a Bachelor‘s in Psychology at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. It was in Utah where Dae was introduced to jazz by a classmate. After taking an Jazz introductory course in their sophomore year, Dae was hooked, especially after hearing John Coltrane‘s A Love Supreme. The connection between gospel and jazz felt immediate and profound—like both genres spoke the same language. As Dae’s passion for jazz grew, so did their desire to understand its bigger meaning. This led to pursuing a Master’s in Jazz Studies at Portland State University, where Dae also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant . There Dae received the University’s prestigious Deinum Prize for Opportunity and Excellence Award for their submission entitled “Cycle of the Outlier: A Black Initiative,” with the premise emphasizing Portland, Oregon’s need for spaces of black arts. Fascinated with jazz and the canon, Dae began to blend it with ideas of linguistics, Black thoughts of Fred Hampton, the spirituality of Alice Coltrane, and Pharoah Sanders; and the philosophies of Max Roach, Michel Focault, Elvin Jones, and Dr. Stephan Alexander. At 26, Dae has become one of Portland’s frequently called drummers, performing with musicians like Melissa Aldana, Steve Wilson, George Colligan, and Darrell Grant, and opening for prevalent artists like Christian McBride and Immanuel Wilkins. For Dae, the music is more than just notes and rhythms; it’s about continuing the conversation that the ancestors started, honoring their legacy with every beat.
Eliott Knuets received his first private guitar lessons at the age of 6 that. He first approached the world of rock (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, etc.) then turned to jazz at the age of 12 . He first trained with Peter Hertmans and Bert Cools, while he was still at secondary school (Kunsthumaniora Brussels). During his school career, he obtained the status of “TOP-Artist” by the culture department of Belgium. At the same time as school, Eliott was admitted as a “young talent” to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. At 16, he had the chance to play with Wynton Marsalis during one of his tours in Europe. The trumpet player spotted him and invited him for a session organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center broadcast from Dizzy’s Club in New York. At the age of 17, Eliott Knuets recorded his first album with french saxophone player Stéphane Guillaume. Eliott was then invited as a special guest by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra to “De Werf” (Aalst). As soon as his album was released, Eliott’s career took off: he performed on the stages of BOZAR, Flagey, Bimhuis, the Grand-Place of Brussels, Brosella, the Getxo Jazz Festival, the Leuven Jazz festival, the River Jazz Festival, Djangofolies, the Athens Jazz Festival, … In 2022, he began his studies at the Jazz Campus in Basel, Switzerland, where he had the chance to study with masters such as Lionel Loueke, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Lage Lund, Jeff Ballard, Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier, Jorge Rossy, … That same year, Eliott was invited by the Swiss embassy for a private concert in front of President Ignazio Cassis as well as King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. In March 2023, Eliott was named “young artist in residence” at the Leuven Jazz Festival and he had the chance to perform there with the famous pianist Aaron Parks. In April 2023, the Knuets/Secula quartet was selected for the final of the “Keep an Eye” international jazz competition, in Amsterdam. They won the prize for best arrangement. Eliott also had the chance to be invited by Jorge Rossy for a trio, with whom he already performed in Belgium and Switzerland. In the same year, he already recorded 3 albums as a sideman (Noé Sécula, Gerard Chumilla, Javier Rojo) for the famous jazz label “Fresh Sound Records” and went touring multiple times in France and Spain for the release of the projects. Eliott is currently studying his master’s degree and is also focusing a lot on writing and composing music and has the chance to study weekly with the great Ambrose Akinmusire.
Eva Serrano
Wilbur Wittha
Eva Serrano is a 22-year-old musician from Valencia, currently based in Rotterdam. She is a double bassist, singer and composer. Her versatile musical approach spans modern jazz, blending influences from folk, Latin, and Spanish music. She began playing classical double bass at the age of seven and gradually discovered jazz while studying at Sedajazz, a renowned musicians' collective in Valencia. She later pursued her higher education at the conservatory in Valencia before moving to the Netherlands, where she is currently completing her bachelor's degree at Codarts, Rotterdam, under the tutelage of Marius Beets and Stefan Lievestro. Eva has performed alongside renowned musicians such as Perico Sambeat, Benjamin Herman, Chipi Chacón, and Alain Pérez, establishing a strong presence in both the Dutch and Spanish music scenes across various genres. She leads her own project, while also collaborating in numerous ensembles. Her musical journey has taken her to major festivals such as North Sea Jazz Festival and venues across Europe, Indonesia, India and beyond, solidifying her reputation as a rising talent in jazz.
Wilbur Whitta is an award-winning Gadigal/Sydney based pianist and composer. Originally hailing from Canberra/Ngunnawal, Wilbur is now a mainstay of the Sydney jazz and improvised music community. He has performed across the globe, touring throughout Australia, the UK, Europe and Japan. He has appeared alongside acclaimed international artists Kit Downes and Will Vinson, and as a member of legendary Australian jazz outfit “Ten Part Invention”. Wilbur currently leads his band “Wildfire”, who toured and released their debut album on ABC Jazz (the label of the Australian national Broadcaster) in 2024. Wilbur also performs solo improvised recitals on piano and organ. Wilbur has received numerous awards and acknowledgements. He was selected as a finalist in the Australian National Jazz Awards, and, while living in London, won the UK-based Dankworth Jazz Composition Award. In 2023, Wilbur conducted a workshop for undergraduate and postgraduate jazz students at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. Praise for Wilbur Whitta: “He is prodigiously talented … I believe he will go on to become an important voice in the genre, both through his piano playing and through his compositions” – Kit Downes “Wilbur Whitta is an exceptionally talented young pianist/composer who I expect will make a substantial contribution to Australian music in the years to come” – Mike Nock Praise for Wildfire: “His extraordinary talent is confirmed here with the quartet Wildfire performing nine of his compositions, played with absolute authority and conviction” – The Australian “The recording is an exhilarating set with blue-chip collaborators on a heart-felt concept album that the pianist holds close to his heart” – Dingo Jazz