Kyle Roussel was born April 26, 1988, in Boutte, Louisiana, and began playing piano on his sister’s toy keyboard before receiving formal instruction from Frozine Francis, mother of film composer Elvin Ross. He started classical piano training at age nine and was playing at churches of multiple denominations by twelve. At the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), Roussel studied under Alvin Batiste and Ellis Marsalis Jr. before receiving his first professional call from drummer Shannon Powell, and he later studied at Loyola University New Orleans. His influences range from the piano giants of New Orleans — Professor Longhair, James Booker, Ellis Marsalis — to the broader jazz tradition.
Roussel spent roughly three years touring with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band before joining the Preservation Hall Jazz Band as a full-time member, and he has also toured with The Headhunters alongside Mike Clark and Bill Summers. He has performed with an extraordinary range of artists, including Jon Batiste, Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Chance the Rapper, Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, Terence Blanchard, and Dave Matthews Band — playing more than 40 countries and iconic venues including Coachella, Carnegie Hall, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and Madison Square Garden. His work as a sideman, most notably with Thomas, exemplifies his gifts as an accompanist: he listens deeply and never overwhelms the vocalist while remaining a constant presence.
In 2022, Roussel appeared on screen playing Jelly Roll Morton in HBO’s Interview with the Vampire. His 2025 album, Church of New Orleans, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Regional Roots Music Album, featuring guest vocalist Quiana Lynell. A devoted educator as well as performer, Roussel teaches at NOCCA and has been a mentor to the next generation of New Orleans pianists — the city’s living tradition at its most vital and forward-looking.
