Before he performed on stage with music legends like Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl, before he traveled the world, Kyle Roussel was just a child playing on his sister’s toy keyboard.
A child with rhythm, as it turned out.
“People would always tell me, ‘oh you sound good,’ or say ‘it sounds like he’s making songs,’” Roussel, a Boutte native who attended Hahnville High School, recalls. “And then it just so happened my uncle’s father married a piano teacher.”
That teacher, Frozine Francis, began working with Roussel. Those piano lessons channeled Roussel’s talent, which blossomed as he began learning classical piano – Beethoven, Chopin – and honing his skills. Those lessons began at the age of 9. By 12, he was playing in churches. And by the time he was set for high school, he auditioned for and was accepted to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).
Today, the 37-year-old Roussel is one of New Orleans’ most well-known pianists. He’s also proficient with the organ, keyboard, and drums in numerous genres – jazz, soul, gospel, funk, he’s tackled them all.
He is a regular on tour with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Headhunters and has played with many other notable figures across multiple genres — Jon Batiste, Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Terrence Blanchard, Dave Matthews Band, Chance the Rapper, Irma Thomas, Tyler Perry, Lauren Daigle, Kermit Ruffins and many others. His talent has taken him far beyond the New Orleans area as well: to 48 states, six continents and over 50 countries across the globe, he’s played Coachella, Carnegie Hall, Montreux and Madison Square Garden.
This is usually where the artist notes he’s living a dream, and it’s indeed true for Roussel.
It just wasn’t the plan.
“I’ve always loved music. And I always have wanted to play music. I just never necessarily thought of it as a career for myself,” said Roussel. “I wanted to be an architect, actually. I went to Southeastern to be an architect.”
But by the time he turned 19, his focus shifted. He transferred to the University of New Orleans, where he graduated with a degree in music.
“So many times since then, I’ve had that realization I was definitely put here to be a musician,” Roussel said. “This has been the one job I’ve ever had – I’ve done this for a living my whole life.”
He said that having the chance to play with some of those famous names doesn’t always sink in until later.
“It’s a great honor. At the same time, celebrities are, at the end of the day, just normal, regular people,” Roussel said. “When you’re on stage with someone prominent, you really just try to focus on doing a good job and remembering all of the things you have to do, giving your best effort and enjoying the experience.
“Sometime later, you see the video on YouTube or you see the photos and you realize, ‘wow, that was really cool.’ You don’t always feel it at the time because you’re so in the moment.”
One thing he’s always sure to do in those situations is to take the opportunity to learn. Roussel is, in every aspect, a student of the game.
“I’m a very observant person and I’m always trying to learn what makes people tick. Really great musicians, if I have that chance to talk to them about their past, I’m trying to really delve into – where did you grow up, did you study music in the church, or how did you come about music? I’m always trying to glean something from everyone, whether it’s a famous musician or a guy I’m playing with at a bar.”
That last note is part of what he loves most about music: it’s a universal language.
“You have access to the entire socioeconomic spectrum of people,” Roussel said. “You can play for President Obama and Joe’s Corner Bar in the same week, or you can play a show for $10,000 and then play the exact same thing for $100 a few days later. You have access to the entire spectrum of people.”
It all started, however, in the churches of St. Charles Parish. It’s where he learned to play for an audience, and to become comfortable doing so – “When I first got to working with some prominent people, I really wasn’t nervous because I was used to playing in church.”
As for the music itself, Roussel said New Orleans is at the core of so much he composes and performs. He speaks glowingly of New Orleans’ strong lineage of piano players, from Jelly Roll Morton to James Booker to Professor Longhair to Dr. John.
Roussel’s goal is to keep that tradition – that music – powering forward.
His album released this year, Church of New Orleans, also features 35 different acts and is what Roussel believes is his best work so far.
“I feel like it’s, for me, making my mark on New Orleans music in a big way,” said Roussel,
He’s recently achieved a few other significant milestones as well. Last year, he became a Steinway Artist, a title signifying that the artist has achieved a high level of professional accomplishment and is recognized for their exceptional musical ability.
He’s also taken to the stage in a different way – acting. He portrayed jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire television series in 2022. This wasn’t his first acting role, but was his most expansive – and he said it made for a very fun experience.
“It was great because I was treated like a real actor,” Roussel said with a laugh. “My other roles I had minimal lines or was kind of just the piano player off in the corner. This role actually had marks to meet and I had lines, my own trailer and assistants … it was great to really, really step into that role. Everyone was really nice and friendly to me. It was a great experience.”
Roussel regularly performs at Snug Harbor, Tipitina’s, Maple Leaf Bar and Preservation Hall. His performance dates and locations can be found on his website, kyleroussel.com.
Kyle Roussel Discography
Album Artist-Title-Label-Year
The Headhunters-Platinum-Owl Studios-2011
Khris Royal and Dark Matter-Khris Royal and Dark Matter-Independent-2011
Glen David Andrews-Live at the Three Muses-Louisiana Red Hot Records-2012
Mainline Brass Band-Mainline Brass Band-Independent-2012
Gast Waltzing-Jazzed Up in New Orleans-WPR Jazz-2013
Cedric Burnside Project-He Me When I Say-Independent-2013
Lena Prima-Starting Something-Independent-2014
Michaela Harrison-Listen to the Music-Independent-2014
Denise Gordon-Sunday’s Service-Independent-2014
Kyle Roussel-Rookie of the Year-Independent-2014
Terence Blanchard-Black or White Soundtrack-Relativity Music Group-2015
Pastor Dale Jay Sanders-It Had to be Him-Independent-2015
Ana Popovic-Trilogy, Vol. 3-ArtisteXclusive Records-2016
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra-Make America Great Again!-Troubadour Jass-2016
Khari Allen Lee and The New Creative Collective-A New Earth-Independent-2016
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band-So It Is-Sub Pop Records-2017
Roderick Paulin-Slow but Steady-Independent-2017
Haruka Kikuchi-Japan: New Orleans Collection Series Vol. 4-Independent-2017
Uncle Nef-Blues-Ropeadope-2017
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band-Run Stop & Drop!-Sony Music-2017
Brian Fallon-Sleepwalkers-Island Records-2018
Uncle Nef-Love Songs-Ropeadope-2019
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band-A Tuba to Cuba Soundtrack-Sub Pop Records-2019
The Soul Rebels-Poetry In Motion-Mack Avenue Records-2019
Irma Thomas, Mannie Fresh, Curren$y, Preservation Hall Jazz Band Offline Playlist-Sub Pop Records-2019
PJ Morton, Big Freedia, Boyfriend-Preservation Hall Jazz Band Holiday Jukebox-Sub Pop Records-2019
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra -Jazz Party-Troubadour Jass-2020
Haruka Kikuchi-Japan: New Orleans Collection Series-Independent-2020
Ingrid Lucia-Wanderlust-Independent-2020
Dominic Minix-Try Again-Independent-2020
Irma Thomas-Love is the Foundation-Newvelle Records-2020
Uncle Nef-Empty Room-Guava Records-2021
Shangobunmi Durotimi-Beaming Out-Roussel Records-2021
Tyler Perry-A Jazzman’s Blues Soundtrack-Sony Music-2022
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band-Holiday-Sub Pop Records-2022
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra-Uptown on Mardi Gras Day-Troubadour Jass-2023
Kyle Roussel-Nola à la Mode-Roussel Records-2023
Roussel Maajon-Roussel Maajon-Independent-2023
The Headhunters-Live from Brooklyn Bowl-Ropeadope-2023
Stephen Walker-Midnight Cocktails-Independent-2023
Sean Ardoin-Mosaic-Zydekool Records-2023
Quiana Lynell-Pillow Talk-Q Sound-2023
Branford Marsalis-Rustin Soundtrack-Netflix Music-2023
Terence Blanchard-Music from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure-Walt Disney Records-2024
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra-Crescent City Jewels-Troubadour Jass-2024
The Headhunters-The Stunt Man-Ropeadope-2024
Kyle Roussel-Church of New Orleans-Tiger Turn-2025
Alune Wade-New African Orleans-Enja Yellowbird-2025
