About

Deeply connected to his Caribbean roots as well as his early jazz influences, Kulusé Souriant is a versatile and always passionate drummer who has found his own voice by exploring many musical configurations. He was the composer and the bandleader of the contemporary jazz quintet Markit Zero with whom he played in many french venues and festivals (Jazz in Marciac, Sunset/Sunside…) from 2013 to 2019.

Kulusé grew up in a jazz musician family and is very attached to this music. Along his career, he played in many jazz bands such as Two Slides, Art Bop Jazztet or Swing Vandals. Loving jazz didn’t prevent him to play in various other contexts including a forty drummers band (Ali Baba et les 40 batteurs) for ten years, a tour in Turkey with the rockabilly band Jerry Khan Bangers, a rock band with Maddy Keita, and to explore many creative music (Aram, Le Chantier, High Key…). He always was a substitute of choice in the Toulouse music scene, being able to adapt to any genre. His curiosity prompted him to live in Rio de Janeiro in 2019 and travel South-America for two years.

Conscious that the Toulouse jazz scene was vibrant but not well enough represented, he co-founded the Troisième Face collective, now regrouping more than one hundred young creative musicians. With the collective he had the chance to play with Romain Pilon, Nicolas Algans and Thomas Koenig. In 2017 and 2018, he recorded and toured with the Guadeloupean singer Edmony Krater, reconnecting with the music of his ancestors – Gwo Ka – and having the opportunity to play in La Cigale (Paris), Earth Garden Festival (Malta) and African Acid is the Future (Berlin) among other places.

In 2018 Kulusé was teaching in Toulouse Jean-Jaurès University of Jazz where he had studied (notably with Jean-Marc Padovani and Marc Ducret), as well a giving drums lessons in Montrabé music school and Agostini drums school, another school he graduated from.

In 2021 Kulusé moved to New York were he studied at the New School of Jazz under the wise guidance of Ari Hoenig, Reggie Workman, Darcy James Argue and Darius Jones.

He finally settles down to Montreal where he earned a master degree in jazz performance and composition at UdeM. Curious of other cultures, Kulusé playes with the Colombian jazz bands Jomalé and Santiago Ferrer trio, in the latin-jazz band of his former teacher Julán Gutierrez and with the Argentinian songwriter Julian Muro, releasing soon an album under the direction of Dave Douglas.

He created a new band in Montreal whith which he recorded his debut album “Douvan” to be released next year.

Renowned for his great musicality, Kulusé is a sensitive and solid drummer who defends a very personal approach to the instrument and to music.