Maia Wackernagel

A classically trained pianist (Basel, Paris) who came to jazz late and now explores it across international stages, including collaborations with African musicians.

Maia Wackernagel’s musical journey has evolved over decades, navigating the space between classical tradition and a quest for creative freedom. Trained as a pianist at the Basel Conservatory and through master’s studies in Paris, her early years were shaped by the works of Ravel, Prokofiev, and Bach. A decisive influence came from Olivier Messiaen’s harmonic theory, which opened new perspectives far beyond traditional tonality. Traversing contemporary music, ambient, beats, film scores, and jazz, she forged her own distinctive language at the intersection of composition and improvisation—a language documented across numerous CD releases and brought to life through rich collaborations with a wide array of musicians. Her artistic path has led to solo and ensemble performances both in Switzerland and internationally, with her collaborations alongside local artists at festivals across West and Central Africa proving particularly transformative. Today, her work bridges purist piano compositions and electronic music, maintaining a delicate balance between structure and openness. At once experimental and approachable, her music pairs the clarity of the composed moment with the freedom of intuitive play. Visual art, photography, and the layered experiences of a multi-faceted life all serve as key resonance spaces for her musical world. Ultimately, Maia Wackernagel views her work as a place of stillness, friction, and discovery—driven by the desire to find oneself within sound.

Releases

Patterns Of Self And Other

Maia Wackernagel