Home » Jazz Musicians » Ferenc Nemeth

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.

Read more

Tags

14
Album Review

Gilfema: Three

Read "Three" reviewed by Pat Youngspiel


Few trios are as immediately recognizable as Gilfema. It's almost impossible to mistake the interplay between Ferenc Nemeth, Massimo Biolcati and Lionel Loueke. The three Berklee College of Music and Thelonious Monk institute graduates have been going at it together for more than 15 years now, their eponymous debut album having been released in 2005 for New York-based label Obliqsound. Between uneven meters, jazzy harmonies and afro-pop-infused rhythms and melodies, the three collaborators continue to express their individual musical visions ...

6
Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth: Freedom

Read "Freedom" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


Like a playground for improvisation, Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth's newest recording abounds with joy and, in accord with the album title, a strong sense of Freedom. Not only does Freedom continue the bassless concept of his 2012 release Triumph (Dreamers Collective), but the New York-based percussionist allows himself to tap his intuition, often leading to simpler structures and minimal harmonic progressions. It is in such melodically generous frames that Nemeth--accompanied by his compatriot Tzumo Arpad on keys and Gregory Tardy ...

5
Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth/Attila Laszlo: Bridges Of Souls

Read "Bridges Of Souls" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Drummer Ferenc Nemeth's work has always been about building bridges and making connections with a diverse assortment of artists. He's connected styles and cultures through his extensive work with West African guitar phenom Lionel Loueke, supported Israeli bassist Omer Avital, Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca, and other top-shelf artists on record at different times, and built up an impressive body of work under his own name, crossing paths with saxophonist Joshua Redman, bassist John Patitucci, pianist Aaron Parks, and saxophonist Mark ...

5
Catching Up With

Ferenc Nemeth: Openness for Triumph

Read "Ferenc Nemeth: Openness for Triumph" reviewed by Marta Ramon


Ferenc Nemeth's versatility has positioned him in the front line of jazz drummers today. This Hungarian percussionist has developed a recognizable sound which has, over the years, resulted in his sharing the stage with renowned international jazzmen like saxophonists Wayne Shorter, Mark Turner and Chris Cheek, bassist Christian McBride, bassist John Patitucci, vibraphonist Dave Samuels and many others.When Nemeth sits in front of the drums his attention is completely focused on his colleagues' needs to lead the music ...

2
Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth: Triumph

Read "Triumph" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Ferenc Nemeth bursts onto the jazz scene with his second release as a leader. Triumph is the follow-up to his lyrical, more reserved debut Night Songs(Dreamers Collective 2007), and finds the Hungarian-born drummer in the company of a superb quartet including his boss in the Gilfema trio, guitarist Lionel Loueke. Where Night Songs bore the heavy influence of Loueke's approach to ethnic fusion, Triumph is unique in its mix of styles that seamlessly blend into a gem ...

2
Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth: Triumph

Read "Triumph" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


A couple of spins of Ferenc Nemeth's Triumph reveals an artist with an ear for the big picture. The Hungarian-born drummer has assembled an all-star jazz quartet and slipped in some subtle woodwind section undercurrents on an all-original outing focused on his personal life experiences, with titles like “Purpose," “Joy" and “Sorrow and Wishful Thinking." On smaller but more focused scale, Triumph's approach is similar to pianist Brad Mehldau's Highway Rider (Nonesuch, 2010)--a thematic set shaped like a symphony, with ...

2
Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth: Triumph

Read "Triumph" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Hungarian-born drummer Ferenc Nemeth is primarily known as the percussive presence behind the music of one-of-a-kind guitarist Lionel Loueke, but roles are reversed on the drummer's triumphant sophomore album. Loueke, saxophonist Joshua Redman and pianist Kenny Werner join forces with, and in support of, Nemeth, forming one of the most potent foursomes on record in 2012. Nemeth's skills as drummer, composer and musical casting agent come together brilliantly on this gripping set of music that takes shape ...

Read more articles
NATE CHINEN of NEW YORK TIMES – “Ferenc Nemeth is a nimble Hungarian drummer with a feel for African rhythm.”

AMAZON EDITORIAL REVIEW – “On "Triumph" Ferenc Nemeth has created a journey for the ages. An epic work!”

DAN MCCLENAGHAN of ALL ABOUT JAZZ – “Triumph's approach is similar to pianist Brad Mehldau's Highway Rider (Nonesuch, 2010)—a thematic set shaped like a symphony, with each piece leading into the next, interlocked and sectioned by interludes.”

TERRELL KENT HOLMES of ALL ABOUT JAZZ – “The sophistication and self-assurance of his (Ferenc's) composing and arranging have the earmarks of a seasoned veteran.”

Read more

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Currently professor at Siena Jazz University Masters Program. Taught private lessons at Manhattan School, New School, Wheeler school, Kodolanyi Janos University, Bartok Conservatory, Franz Liszt Academy Jazz department, Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music.

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

UnStandard

Sounderscore
2022

buy

Freedom

Dreamers Collective
2020

buy

Three

Sounderscore
2020

buy

Plays Pat

Hunnia Records
2019

buy

Bridges Of Souls

Dreamers Collective
2014

buy

Second Phase

Jando Music
2014

buy

Triumph

From: Triumph
By Ferenc Nemeth

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.