Ari Hoenig is a jazz drummer, composer, and educator known for his unusual and intense approach to drumming, emphasizing complex rhythms and integrating drums as an indispensable part of performance, rather than a supporting role.
Born on November 13, 1973 in Philadelphia, Ari was exposed to a musical family: his father, a conductor and classical singer, and his mother, a violinist and pianist. Ari began studying violin and piano at age 4 before turning to drums at 12, honing his skills at Philly jazz clubs like Ortlieb’s JazzHaus by age 14.
After attending the University of North Texas and later William Patterson College, Ari moved to New York, where he played with groups such as the Jean Michel Pilc Trio, Kenny Werner Trio, Chris Potter Underground, Kurt Rosenwinkel Group, and Joshua Redman Elastic Band.
Ari has released multiple solo drum albums like Time Travels (2000) and The Life of a Day (2002), showcasing the melodic possibilities of the drum set. He formed the Ari Hoenig Quartet in 2002 and signed with Dreyfus Records, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Inversations (2006), Bert’s Playground (2008), and Lines of Oppression (2011). In 2013, his quartet won the BMW Welt Award for best drummer-led band.
Recent releases include Ari’s Funhouse (2022) with the Ben Markley Big Band and Golden Treasures (2022), featuring his current trio with Gadi Lehavi and Ben Tiberio. His music blends cinematic composition with rhythmic innovation.
Ari also co-leads projects like Pilc, Moutin, Hoenig and the jazz-electronica project Nasty Factorz. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Chris Potter, Edmar Castaneda, and Gael Horellou.
As an educator, Ari is a faculty member at New York University and The New School. He has authored several instructional books like Intro to Polyrhythms and Metric Modulations and released a series of educational videos, including Rhythm Training and Melodic Drumming. He also shares insights on his Patreon club and published The Ari Hoenig Songbook.
Ari resides in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.