Biography

Biography

It is at the age of 6 that Eliott receives his first private guitar lessons. He first started playing rock music (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, …) then turned to jazz at the age of 12.

He first trained with Peter Hertmans and Bert Cools, while still in high school (Kunsthumaniora Brussel). During his school career, he obtained the status of “TOP-Artist” by the department of culture.

In addition to school, Eliott was admitted as a “young talent” at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

At the age of 16, he had the chance to jam with Wynton Marsalis during one of his tours in Europe. The trumpeter spotted him and invited him for a session organized by the Jazz at Lincoln Center and broadcasted from Dizzy’s Club in New York.

At the age of 17, Eliott Knuets recorded his first album with Stéphane Guillaume as special guest. Eliott was then invited by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra in “De Werf” (Aalst).

As soon as his album was released, Eliott’s career took off: he performed at BOZAR, the Grand-Place of Brussels, the Brosella, the Getxo Jazz Festival, the Leuven Jazz Festival, the River Jazz Festival, the Djangofollies, …

In 2022, he starts his studies at the Jazz Campus in Basel, Switzerland. There he studies with Lionel Loueke, Wolfgang Muthspiel, 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 and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

In March 2023 Eliott was named “young artist in residence” at the Leuven Jazz Festival and had the chance to perform with the famous pianist Aaron Parks.

In April 2023, the Knuets/Secula quartet was selected for the finals of the international jazz competition “Keep an Eye” in Amsterdam. They won the prize for best arrangement.

Eliott also had the chance to be invited by Jorge Rossy for a trio, with which he will perform in the future, notably at Bozar.