François Couturier
French jazz pianist known for ECM recordings and Tarkovsky tributes.
François Couturier, a French jazz pianist, was born on 2 May 1950 in Fleury-les-Aubrais, Orléans. He started piano lessons at six and, after earning a degree in classical piano and musicology in 1977, met bassist Jean-Paul Céléa the following year, forming a duo. Over his career, he has performed with French jazz musicians including André Ceccarelli, Eddy Louiss, Michel Portal, François Jeanneau, and Daniel Humair. Couturier first met Tunisian oud player Anouar Brahem at the 1985 Festival de Carthage; they later collaborated on the albums *Khomsa* (1994), *Le pas du Chat Noir* (2001), and *Le Voyage de Sahar* (2005), and have toured together since 2001. In 2006, he released *Nostalghia – A Song for Tarkovsky* on ECM Records with soprano saxophonist Jean-Marc Larché, accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier, and cellist Anja Lechner, a tribute to filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky first performed at a festival in Bergamo that year. Further albums with the Tarkovsky Quartet followed in 2011 and 2017. In 2007, he played in the quintet “Passaggio,” recording two albums on Label Bleu, and in the “European Jazz Trio” with Céléa and Wolfgang Reisinger. He also performs in a duo with violinist Dominique Pifarély on the album *Poros* (1997) and with pianist Jean-Pierre Chalet, and recorded *From Machaut to Berio* with countertenor Dominique Visse. His discography includes *Moderato cantabile* (2014) with cellist Anja Lechner on ECM New Series.
- Born
- 2 May 1950
- Field
- Jazz pianist
- Nationality
- French
- Known for
- Collaborations with Anouar Brahem, Tarkovsky Quartet
Lore & Background
Couturier began learning piano at age six. After earning a degree in classical piano and musicology in 1977, he met bassist Jean-Paul Céléa and formed a duo. Over time, he played with French jazz musicians such as André Ceccarelli, Eddy Louiss, Michel Portal, François Jeanneau, and Daniel Humair.
After first meeting during the 1985 Festival de Carthage, Couturier collaborated on Anouar Brahem's albums Khomsa (1994), Le pas du Chat Noir (2001), and Le Voyage de Sahar (2005), and the two have toured together several times since 2001. In 2006, his album Nostalghia – A Song for Tarkovsky was released on ECM Records with soprano saxophonist Jean-Marc Larché, accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier, and cellist Anja Lechner. The album was first presented at a festival in Bergamo in 2006. Other albums with the Tarkovsky Quartet followed in 2011 and 2017.
In 2007, he played in the quintet 'Passaggio' and in the 'European Jazz Trio' with Céléa and Wolfgang Reisinger. He also plays in duo with violinist Dominique Pifarély on his album Poros (1997) and with pianist Jean-Pierre Chalet. With countertenor Dominique Visse he recorded From Machaut to Berio.
Reader's Guide
François Couturier's significance lies in his ability to bridge classical piano training with jazz improvisation and world music. His long collaboration with Tunisian oud player Anouar Brahem produced three albums that blend jazz with North African and classical influences. The Tarkovsky Quartet, formed in 2006, created a distinctive body of work inspired by the films of Andrei Tarkovsky, performed at festivals and released on ECM Records. Couturier's work with the European Jazz Trio and quintet Passaggio further demonstrates his versatility. His 1981 Prix Django Reinhardt recognized his early promise. His discography includes the 2014 duo album Moderato cantabile with cellist Anja Lechner on ECM New Series. Couturier's legacy is that of a French jazz pianist who consistently explored cross-cultural and cross-genre collaborations, from John McLaughlin to medieval music with Dominique Visse.
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