Ferenc Nemeth

FERENC NEMETH is an accomplished and versatile musician who continues to push the boundaries of jazz drumming and composition. Nemeth has since the early days of his career, been one of the most sought after drummers both, in his native Hungary as well as in the United States. Coming from a musical family, his unique dynamism and versatility was fostered from a very early age. An exciting performer and imaginative collaborator, Nemeth is well regarded for his work with the Lionel Loueke Trio and GilFeMa and has also travelled, performed and collaborated extensively as a bandleader, co-leader, sideman and educator as well as initiating creative projects of his own.

From his early days at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Thelonius Monk Insitute of Jazz in Los Angeles, Nemeth has learned from and worked with the world’s finest jazz musicians and groups including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, the Billy Childs Trio, Bob Sheppard, Dave Carpenter, John Clayton, Jimmy Heath, The Henry Mancini Orchestra amongst others. Relocating to New York in 2003, Nemeth’s distinctive energy and drive saw his career continuing with many of the same musicians, and also expanding to include the likes of Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Lionel Loueke, John Abercrombie, Dave Samuels, Mark Turner, Hal Crook, David Benoit, Bud Shank, Greg Hopkins, Phil Wilson, Dave Grusin, Eddie Daniels, Eddie Henderson, Ron McClure, Chris Cheek, Aaron Goldberg, Kenny Wheeler, Eli Degibri, Jonathan Kreisberg, John Ellis, Omer Avital, Ilayaraja, the Kenny Werner Coalition and most recently Dhafer Youssef.

Many of his collaborations have become long-standing partnerships spanning over a decade. 2003 was also the start of Nemeth’s involvement with GilFeMa, a trio also featuring Lionel Loueke and Massimo Biolcati. The trio, who had been playing together since the Berklee days continued their creative efforts in this format with all three contributing compositions to the 2004 album, eponymously titled, GilFeMa (ObliqSound). Notwithstanding, college fraternity and friendship, Nemeth’s natural great range coupled with his dynamism, complexity and improvisation makes him a perfect partner in the Loueke-Biolcati-Nemeth cooperative. His contribution here as well as with other collaborations is evidence of his great versatility, which informs a unique musical personality. His expertise and vast knowledge beyond traditional jazz, has also seen him move effortlessly through contemporary jazz as well as pop, rock, electro-pop, hip hop and increasingly into ethnic and culturally diverse disciplines.

Beyond the extensive repertoire of performance and recording, Nemeth has also established his own label, Dreamer’s Collective Records and in 2007, released his debut album of original compositions, “Night Songs” to much accolade and features such luminaries as John Patitucci, Chris Cheek, Mark Turner, Lionel Loueke and Aaron Parks. Displaying sophistication and self-assurance, the recording has established Nemeth as a composer and arranger in his own right. A second project for the label “Triumph” was released in the autumn of 2012, sees Joshua Redman, Kenny Werner, Lionel Loueke as contributors, as well as a small wind orchestra. For over 10 weeks the album was among the Top 15 on the CMJ Jazz Charts. Both of his albums were finalist at the Independent Music Awards in 2008 and 2012, respectively. “Imaginary Realm”, the third album for the label was released in 2013 and it features a duo with Javier Vercher, one of Nemeth’s long time friend/bandmate. The fourth album of the label was released on the fall of 2014 and it’s a collaboration with Hungarian legend, guitarist, Attila Laszlo and features two Grammy winning musicians, Jimmy Haslip and Russell Ferrante, besides two incredible vocalists, the Hungarian Charlie Horvath and the Spanish Lara Bello.

An ever-present thirst for exploration and experimentation has seen Nemeth travel widely and play with musicians from a variety of backgrounds and countries. This occupation in turn, has also resulted in Nemeth’s regular participation in workshops and teaching programs in the United States and internationally, the most recent being stints at the University of Siena, the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in India, the Kodolanyi University in Hungary, the Bartok Conservatory in Hungary, the Asheville Percussion Festival in North Carolina and the Wheeler School in Providence.

In addition, in 2011, Ferenc has launched an app at the Mac AppStore called “Drum School,” that is an educational tool, including over 400 drum grooves and hand exercises. This app is a rhythm library, an instructional DVD and a method book, all in one.

Awards

As leader: Wheel of Time with Javier Vercher (Fresh Sound, 2006) Night Songs (Dreamer's Collective, 2007) Triumph (Dreamer's Collective, 2012) Imaginary Realm with Javier Vercher (Dreamer's Collective, 2013) Bridges of Souls with László Attila (Dreamer's Collective, 2014) Freedom (Dreamer's Collective, 2020) With Gilfema: Gilfema (ObliqSound, 2005) Gilfema + 2 (ObliqSound, 2008) Gilfema 3 (Sounderscore, 2020) As sideman or guest: In Line feat Dave Samuels: Twins (Royal, 1996) Som Lajos & Zavodi Janos: Szaz Ev Zene (Royal, 1997) Janos Egri: Moods, Infoimpress (1998) Seung-Hee Han: With Every Breath I Take (1999) Ben Adams Quartet: The Figured Wheel (Tonic Productions, 2000) Michael Cohen: Michael Cohen (2000) Pal Vasvari feat Dave Samuels & Alex Acuna: Tales of The Princess (Partizan, 2001) Martin Buergi feat Dave Samuels: The End of a Love Affair (Altrisuoni, 2001) Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival featuring Terence Blanchard & Dave Grusin (2001) Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee Quintet: Previous Misconceptions (2001) Francesco Guaiana Trio: Nojaz (Exaudi, 2002) Sebastian Noelle Quartet: Freedom Trail (2002) Olivier Manchon Quartet: En Route (2003) Kalman Olah Trio: Contrasts & Parallels (MA, 2003) Grand Pianoramax: Grand Pianoramax (ObliqSound, 2004) Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee Quintet: Borrowed Time (Fresh Sound, 2005) Francisco Pais Quintet: Not Afraid of Color (Fresh Sound, 2006) Felly K: Far Away (Argus Film and Art, 2006) Greg Lamy: What Are You Afraid Of? (2006) Luca Lo Bianco: La Scomparsa di Majorana (Silta, 2006) Lionel Loueke: Virgin Forest (ObliqSound, 2006) Lionel Loueke: Karibu (Blue Note, 2008) Elio Villafranca Quartet: The Source in Between (Ceiba Tree, 2008) Tom Beckham: Rebound (Apria, 2008) Jo Lawry I Want to Be Happy (Fleurieu Music, 2008) Aaron Irwin Blood and Thunder (Fresh Sound, 2008) Francisco Pais School of Enlightenment (Product of Imagination, 2008) Greg Diamond Dancando Com Ale (Chasm, 2008) Alterego Kristof Bacso Q (BMC, 2008) Mari Tochi Band Arigato (Ind, 2009) Federico Casagrande Trio Spirit of the Mountains (Dodicilune, 2009) Daniel Szabo Trio Meets Chris Potter Contribution (BMC, 2009) Lionel Loueke Mwaliko (Blue Note, 2010) Omer Avital Free Forever (Smalls, 2011) No Surrender Medicine Babies (ZerOKilled, 2011) Neethaane En Ponvasantham Ilaiyaraaja (Sony, 2012) Spray Drops (The Drops Music, 2013) Second Phase with Pietro Ciancaglini, David Kikoski (Via Veneto, 2014)[3] Kenny Werner Coalition (Half Note, 2014) Lionel Loueke Gaia (Blue Note, 2016) Francisco Pais Lotus Project (Verde, 2016) Pawel Ignatowicz: Here and Now (Mother of Invention, 2017) Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra Puertos (Avantango Records, 2019) Lionel Loueke The Journey (Aparté Music, 2019) Awards and Honors: Jazz Group of the Year Award with the band “In Line” (1997) Sorors Foundation artistic contest scholarship winner (1998) Berklee European Tour Scholarship (1998) Berklee Talent Achievement Scholarship (1999) IAJE Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship (2000) Berklee – Barnes and Noble Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2000) Berklee – Elvin Jones Award (2000) Full Fellowship to the Henry Mancini Institute at UCLA in Los Angeles (2000) Full Scholarship to New England Conservatory in Boston (2000) Full Fellowship to the Henry Mancini Institute at UCLA in Los Angeles (2001) Full Fellowship to the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program in Washington D.C. (2001) Accepted to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles (2001) 1st place, Charles (Dolo) Coker Award (2002) IAJE Award for Outstanding Musicanship (2002) Named one of the “50 Most Successful Young Hungarians” (2004) IAJE Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education (2006) Gramofon Hungarian Jazz Award (2007) Independetn Music Award Finalist (2008) IAJE Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education (2008) Gramofon “Jazz Album of the Year” Award for “Triumph” (2013)

Gear

Endorsed by DW drums, Zildjian cymbals, VicFirth Drum Sticks and Remo Drumheads.