​Karl Jannuska, Canada / France

Award-winning drummer and composer Karl Jannuska has called Paris his home for the past twenty years. Hailing from the Canadian prairies, he completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from McGill University in Montreal and after spending time in New Orleans and Brooklyn he has become one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers in the French capital. His drumming can be heard on over 100 records and he has performed concerts in over 30 countries sharing the stage with musicians including Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Lionel Loueke, Randy Brecker and Kurt Rosenwinkel.

Unsatisfied with being a “sideman” Karl completes his musical personality with his songwriting and has released six albums entirely comprised of his own original compositions. “On The Brighter Side”, his latest release, has been labeled “ethereal indie jazz” and bridges his love of bands such as Radiohead with his jazz roots. The record was released on the Shed Music label - a label that Karl cofounded in 2015 with three members of his close-knit musical family who form the band The Watershed.

In 2005 Karl received an Opus award for his debut recording “Liberating Vines”. His song “House of 100 Faces” garnered him an Etoiles Galaxie prize from the Montreal International Jazz Festival. He has twice been a runner-up in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition. In addition to performing music Karl enjoys sharing his knowledge and has taught at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, the Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood and has been part of the teaching faculty at the French festivals Jazz in Marciac and Jazz à Vienne.