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Drori Mondlak

Drori Mondlak is one of the outstanding jazz drummers on today's international jazz scene. His touch, subtlety, and interactive approach to playing have brought him critical acclaim and performing opportunities with many creative musicians in diverse musical situations. He also co-leads the quartet Karolina Strassmayer & Drori Mondlak- KLARO! which currently tours and records in Europe.

In his eclectic work in New York City for over twenty years Drori has worked with Frank Foster, Joe Williams, Don Friedman, Chris Potter, Lew Tabackin, Ernestine Anderson, Cary DeNigris, Danny Mixon, Vic Juris, Attila Zoller, Jimmy Ponder, Dave Stryker, Ron McClure, Steve LaSpina, Lynn Seaton, Boris Koslov, Bill Charlap, Larry Goldings, John Hicks, John Bunch, Norman Simmons, Wycliffe Gordon, Warren Vache, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Puma, James Weidman, Phil Markowitz, Rich Perry, Ralph Lalama, David Schnitter, Eric Person, Jon Gordon, Kenny Davern, Randy Sandke, Warren Chiasson, Stanley Banks and many more.

In Europe he has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Lee Konitz, Sonny Fortune, Karolina Strassmayer, Barbara Dennerlein, Lynne Ariale, Cary DeNigris, Stefan Bauer, David Friedman, Tony Lakatos, Paul Heller, Nicolas Simion, Ferdinand Povel, John Goldsby, Ingmar Heller, Fritz Pauer, Ludwig Nuss, Andy Hunter, Paul Shigihara, Chico Freeman, Hiner Wiberny, Kalman Olah, Pablo Held, Hubert Nuss, Michael Heupel, Thomas Rückert, Rainer Böhm, Lutz Häffner, Markus Schieferdecker, Ryan Carniaux, Greetje Kauffeld, Scott Fields, Sunday Night Jazz Orchestra, Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and many more.

Drori released two recordings as a leader, "Wake-Up Call" recorded at Systems ll in Brooklyn in 2003, NY and "Point In Time" recorded at Avatar studios in New York City in 2008. Quartet KLARO! released "Joining Forces", a co-production for the BR- KLASSIK label (Bavarian Broadcasting) in 2011. "Small Moments" released in 2013 was recorded at Bauer studios during one of the quartet's European tours. "Of Mystery And Beauty" is the 2nd co-production with Bavarian Broadcasting for the BR- KLASSIK label. This CD will be released in February 2016.

Selected Groups Karolina Strassmayer & Drori Mondlak - KLARO! Barbara Dennerlein Duo, Trio, Quartet and Quintet Nicolas Simion Quartet & Quintet Lee Konitz Quartet Lynne Arriale Trio Paul Heller Quartet & Quintet Stefan Bauer Group Thomas Rückert Trio Paul Shigihara Trio & Quartet The Lynn Seaton Trio The Cary DeNigris Trio The Don Friedman Trio Scott Fields Freetet The Danny Mixon Trio and Quartet Ernestine Anderson and Trio Joe Williams and Quartet

“Much remindful of the deeply melodic orientations of drummers Shelly Manne, Joe Morello or Max Roach, Mondlak is natural and imaginative in his high regard and ability to represent melodic lines and contours, and illuminates this flow freely.” Dr. Herb Wong - Jazz Perspectives

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4
Album Review

Drori Mondlak and Karolina Strassmayer: Freescapes

Read "Freescapes" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


During twenty plus years of collaboration, drummer Drori Mondlak and saxophonist / flutist Karolina Strassmayer have perfected their creative chemistry. Their highly individual styles are, nevertheless, seamlessly complementary resulting in a unique sound that marks their superb releases. Their eighth, the haunting Freescapes, is an absorbing work with an undercurrent of subtle mysticism that showcases this synergy and splendid musicianship on nine interlinked tracks. Opening with “Sing To Me Of..,," a duet between the co-leaders, and closing with ...

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Album Review

Drori Mondlak: Point In Time

Read "Point In Time" reviewed by Elliott Simon


Good drummers always seem to make all the right connections and Point In Time indicates that leader Drori Mondlak is, indeed, very well connected. He has brought together three marvelous instrumentalists and leaders in their own right--altoist/flutist Karolina Strassmayer, guitarist Cary DeNigris and bassist Steve LaSpina--for an intriguing quartet that strikes a perfect balance between the power in Strassmayer's horn and the elegance of DeNigris' chords, buoyed by the relaxed feel effected by his and LaSpina's obvious affinity.

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Album Review

Drori Mondlak: Point In Time

Read "Point In Time" reviewed by Lyn Horton


In musical groups, sometimes, the intention of the music is the seamless blending of the sounds of each instrument. In other instances, each band member's contribution both stands out and blends in simultaneously. With Point In Time, drummer Drori Mondlak has assembled a quartet and music, which gives the latter circumstance a chance to succeed.

Mondlak took great care in choosing instruments that have distinct tones, and exude equally bright and muted colors. As drummer, Mondlak becomes the constant that ...

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Album Review

Drori Mondlak and Straight Circle: Wake-Up Call

Read "Wake-Up Call" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


Drori Mondlak brings a lot to the table as a drummer/leader. Born to a Polish father and English mother in Mexico City, his family soon moved to London and then New York, where he's remained. Along with this natural assimilation of cultures and rhythms came an infatuation with the drums when he switched over from piano as a teenager, leading to his current enthusiasms, not only for the kit's many colors, timbres and tunings, but its possiblilites for orchestrating melodies ...

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Recording

"Joining Forces" New Recording From Drori Mondlak & Karolina Strassmayer - Klaro!

"Joining Forces" New Recording From Drori Mondlak & Karolina Strassmayer - Klaro!

Source: Drori Mondlak

Karolina Strassmayer & Drori Mondlak | Joining Forces Karolina's passion for the saxophone began in her native village in the heart of the Austrian Alps. A thirst for adventure brought her to New York City, where she garnered a stellar reputation as a jazz saxophonist performing with Duke Ellington Orchestra, Chico Hamilton and many others. In 2004, Karolina became the first woman to join the world-renowned Grammy award winning WDR Big Band Cologne. In the present she divides her time ...

" The precision, speed and reserved strength of Mondlak’s drumming are reminiscent of Joe Morello in his early years with Dave Brubeck." -Doug Ramsey - Rifftides

" Mondlak is a deeply melodic drummer, but with the deceptive power and finessse of someone like Joe Morello. He is is the driver's seat, pushing the soloists but never being pushy. You get the sense that he 's arranging the improvisations from the drum throne." -Andrew Lentz, DRUM!

"Mondlak's melodic approach to the drum set results in considerable tonal color. His polyphonic percussion not only lays the foundation for the grooves, but also adds a harmonic facet to their structures." -Hrayr Attarian, JAZZIZ

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Drori is committed to sharing the knowledge he has accumulated over the course of twenty five years of his involvement with the instrument and performing professionally in many diverse situations.

He believes that the instrument is also a means to self- discovery and a vehicle for creative expression that gives a person the opportunity to develop and express their own unique voice.

He is passionate about teaching and helping drummers further their creative art form.

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Freescapes

Lilypad Music
2022

buy

Small Moments

Lilypad Music
2013

buy

Point In Time

Lilypad Music
2009

buy

Wake-Up Call

DroriDrums Music
2003

buy

Videos

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