Baptiste Stanek is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Basel,
Switzerland. His music is rooted in jazz while drawing on a wide range of influences, with a
particular focus on melody, repetition and timbre. His compositions often develop
through recurring melodic ideas and gradual transformations, with a strong focus on
timbre and sound.
Originally from France, Stanek began his musical studies in Strasbourg, where he studied
both classical music and jazz. He later moved to Basel, completing a Bachelor’s degree in
saxophone at Jazzcampus before obtaining a Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy at the
Zurich University of the Arts. He was also part of the Focusyear program in Basel, an
experience that allowed him to work and perform with musicians including Kendrick
Scott, Lionel Loueke, Miguel Zenón and Chris Cheek.
His work as a performer has taken him across Europe and South America. Since travelling
to Uruguay in 2024, the country has become an important part of his musical and
personal world. He has developed a close relationship with the jazz scene as well as with
UTEC in Mercedes, where he taught workshops and has continued to return regularly to
perform and teach.
As a bandleader, Stanek leads his own quintet, featuring alto saxophonist Ben Van Gelder,
pianist Wes Georgiev, bassist Thiago Duarte and Uruguayan drummer Juan Ibarra. The
group is closely connected to his ongoing work between Switzerland and Uruguay,
bringing together musicians and musical experiences from both places. Its first album,
Basel Smash, was released by LOUMI Records in 2025, followed by Until You’re Here,
scheduled for release on the same label in March 2027.
Stanek is also deeply involved in large ensemble music. He is a co-founder of the Basel
Jazz Orchestra and has been active in the Swiss big band scene, performing regularly with
the Zurich Jazz Orchestra and in projects including the Chris Wiesendanger Large
Ensemble, the Future of Jazz Orchestra, Claudia Döffinger’s Torso Ventuno and the Song
Yi Jeon Large Ensemble. He was also a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in
France from 2019 to 2023.
Throughout his career, Stanek has shared the stage with musicians including Nduduzo
Makhathini, Melissa Aldana, Mark Turner, Jorge Rossy, Francisco Mela and Petter Eldh.
Encounters with musicians he admires, together with his work across different ensembles
and musical traditions, continue to shape his approach to sound and composition.
