Raphaël Pannier

Born in Paris in 1990, Raphaël Pannier is a French drummer, composer, bandleader, and educator whose work bridges jazz traditions with contemporary and global influences.

​After studying classical percussion and jazz in Paris, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2010. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2014, then moved to New York City, where he received another scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, which he completed in 2017.

​From 2014 to 2020, Raphaël lived and worked in New York, performing and touring with a wide range of artists including Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Steve Wilson, Bob James, Marcos Valle, Emil Afrasiyab, and Manuel Valera. He has appeared on over 30 albums across various genres and performed at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, and Minton’s Playhouse, as well as festivals in Montreal, Tokyo, Brazil, Azerbaijan, and Estonia, among others.

​In 2019, Raphaël recorded his first album as a leader and composer, titled Faune, featuring Miguel Zenón (alto saxophone & musical direction), Aaron Goldberg (piano), and François Moutin (bass). Released in 2020 on the French Paradox label, Faune received international acclaim: 5-star reviews in BBC Music Magazine, All About Jazz, DownBeat, Jazz Journal, and JazzLife (Japan); a "Révélation" designation from Jazz Magazine in France; and a #3 ranking for Best Debut Album of 2020 by the NPR Jazz Critics Poll in the U.S.

​In 2020, he received a grant from the French-American Cultural Exchange Foundation (FACE) to record a second album with Miguel Zenón. The result was Letter to a Friend, an adventurous blend of jazz and electronic music, co-produced with German electro pioneer Martin Gretschmann (aka Acid Pauli). Released in 2023, the album was awarded the “Choc” distinction by Jazz Magazine, who hailed it as “a milestone in the history of encounters between jazz and electro.”

​Returning to Paris in 2020, Raphaël quickly became a sought-after collaborator in the European jazz scene. He regularly performs with artists such as Biréli Lagrène, Baptiste Trotignon, Thomas Enhco, Antonio Lizana, and Manel Fortià, while also teaching on the faculty of the American School of Modern Music. He was voted among the Top 5 Jazz Drummers in France by Jazz Magazine and Jazz News in both 2021 and 2023.

​In 2024, Raphaël launched a major cross-cultural project inspired by his lifelong admiration for Senegalese drum master Doudou N’Diaye Rose. Collaborating with griot master drummer Khadim Niang, he led a ten-day residency in Saint-Louis, Senegal, uniting his jazz quartet (with Thomas Enhco, Yosvany Terry, and François Moutin) with a group of eight sabar percussionists. Supported by the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival and the French Institute of Senegal, this groundbreaking collaboration resulted in a live album, Live in Saint-Louis, Senegal, to be released in 2025.

​In parallel, he has been invited multiple times to Mexico by conductor Alondra de la Parra, collaborating with her international ensemble, The Impossible Orchestra, which brings together musicians from both classical and contemporary worlds.

In 2024, he also performed at the PAAX GNP Festival, sharing the stage with leading Latin American artists, including acclaimed singer Natalia Lafourcade.