Xavier Lecouturier

Drums icon Drums

28 age

September 23, 1997 Birthday

San Rafael, California, U.S. Birthplace

Social

About

Xavier Lecouturier is a drummer, composer, and bandleader based in Seattle, known for his rhythmic sophistication and harmonically complex compositions. He leads his own ensembles and co-leads DX-Tet, an octet with pianist Dylan Hayes, and Meridian Odyssey, a six-piece group that blends jazz with rock, funk, and R&B. His debut album Carrier was released on Origin Records in 2019 to international critical acclaim, and he has since released seven albums as leader or co-leader, including Earthshine, which won the 2022 Golden Ear Award. Lecouturier is recognized for his polyrhythmic approach and generous leadership style, creating dense compositional frameworks that challenge and inspire his collaborators. He has played a vital role in revitalizing Seattle's post-pandemic jazz scene, notably reigniting the Tuesday night jam session at the Owl in Pioneer Square.

Trivia

Lecouturier earned his pilot's license while sequestered in Big Lake, Alaska during the COVID-19 pandemic, learning to fly with the help of bandmate Martin Budde's father, a bush pilot. He is also an avid sailor who co-owned a thirty-seven-foot vessel by age twenty-six. Before turning to drums, he played guitar, influenced by the Latin rock culture of the Bay Area.

Early Life

Xavier Lecouturier was born on September 23, 1997, in San Rafael, California, and grew up in the town's Canal District. His mother emigrated from Mexico and his father from France, and the family emphasized outdoor pursuits over urban entertainment -- surfing, hiking, and exploring the Marin County coast. He came to music relatively late, first picking up the guitar before discovering his calling behind the drum kit during his senior year of high school. Determined to immerse himself in jazz, he enrolled at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle alongside childhood friend Dylan Hayes. At Cornish, he studied under drummers John Bishop, Ted Poor, and Matt Wilson, and absorbed wisdom from faculty including trombonist Julian Priester and pianist Jovino Santos Neto.