FERENC NEMETH is a world-renown and versatile, Grammy-award-winning musician who continues to push the boundaries of jazz drumming and composition. In 2020, he won the prestigious Independent Music Award in Jazz Album Category, with his album ‘FREEDOM’. The Spanish Jazz y Mas Heineken Festival named him the Best Drummer in the world! He is part of the “The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute” Project that had 2 Grammy Nominations in 2023 and he also won a Latin Grammy with “Puertos” the Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra in 2022.
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.
His third album as a leader is called ‘FREEDOM’ and it was released in 2020. The album is featuring Tzumo Arpad on piano, Gregory Tardy on Sax and Ferenc on Drums, Percussion and Vocal* (*first time ever on a recording). His latest album “UnStandard” was released in 2022 and it features Dayna Stephens and Marcus Strickland on Sax, Massimo Biolcati on Bass and Ferenc on Drums, Percussion and Vocals. One of Ferenc’s song, “It’s a Beautiful Place” was in the Semi-Finalists for the 2023 International Songwriting Competition. His mashup composition of Cyclic Episode/Eighty-One won 2nd place on the 2023 Unsigned Only Music Competition, and his song “Folk Song” won the Honorable Mention Award at the 2022 International Songwriting Contest.
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.
EXPERIENCE
As Leader
- Ferenc Nemeth – Night Songs (Dreamer’s Collective Records) 2007
- – Triumph (Dreamer’s Collective Records) 2012
- – Freedom (Dreamer’s Collective Records) 2020
- – UnStandard (SounderScore) 2022
- Lionel Loueke
- Massimo Biolcati
- Mike Moreno
- Ben Street
- Eli Degibri
- Kenny Werner
- Mark Turner
- Chris Cheek
- Joshua Redman
- Omer Avital
- Bob Sheppard
- Russell Ferrante
- Sam Yahel
- Matt Garrison
- Chris Potter
- John Patitucci
- Richard Bona
As Co-Leader
- GilFeMa – GilFeMa (ObliqSound) 2004
- – GilFeMa + 2 (ObliqSound) 2008
- Javier Vercher – Wheel of Time (Fresh Sound) 2007
- – Imaginary Realm (Dreamer’s Collective Records) 2013
- Ferenc Nemeth – Attila Laszlo – Bridges of Souls feat. Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Charlie and Lara Bello ( 2014)
As Sideman/Guest Artist
- I love Music – Piotr Wylezol (Art Evolution Records) 2024
- James Tunstall – Beetle (James Tunstall) 2024
- Joseph Vicent, Emilio Solla & ADDA Simfonica –The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute. Ritmo (Warner Music) 2023
- Emilio Solla & Antonio Lizana – El Siempre Mar (Emilio Solla) 2023
- Maurizio Giammarco – Past Present (Parco Della Musica Records) 2022
- Ron Cha – Bihu Blues (Ron Cha) 2022
- Ron Cha – Lost (Ron Cha) 2022
- Dimitri K., Alvin L. Giles & Ferenc Nemeth – Did you get it? (Dimitri K. Publishing) 2022
- ‘Tzumo Trio – Plays Pat (Hunnia Records) 2019
- Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra – Puertos: Music from International Waters (Avantango Records) 2019
- Lionel Loueke – The Journey (Little Tribeca) 2018
- Lionel Loueke Trio – Gaia (Blue Note) 2016
- Francisco Pais Lotus Project – Verde (Ind) 2016
- Kenny Werner – Coalition (Half Note) 2014
- Pietro Ciancaglini, Dave Kikoski, Ferenc Nemeth – Second Phase (Millesuoni) 2014
- Fabrizio Mocata – Letter from Manhattan (AlfaMusic) 2014
- Drops – Spray (The Drops Music), 2013
- Jose Maria Carles – Traveling Forward (Nuba Records S.L.) 2012
- Ilaiyaraaja – Neethaane En Ponvasantham (Sony), 2012
- No Surrender (elctro-pop/hip hop) – Medicine Babies (ZerOKilled) 2011
- Ivan Segreto (pop-rock) – Chiaro (ObliqSound) 2011
- Lionel Loueke – Virgin Forest (ObliqSound) 2007
- – Karibu (Blue Note) 2008
- – Mwaliko (Blue Note) 2010
- Lionel Loueke Trio
- Kenny Werner New Quintet
- Dave Kikoski Trio
- Billy Childs Trio
- Jacques Szwarzbart Band
- Seamus Blake Quartet
- Grace Kelly
- Hiromi
- Jose Maria Carles – Traveling Forward (Nuba Records) 2011
- Omer Avital – Free Forever (Smalls) 2011
- Daniel Szabo meets Chris Potter – Contribution (BMC) 2009
- Aaron Irwin Group – Blood and Thunder (Fresh Sound) 2009
- Jo Lawry – I Want To Be Happy (Fleurieu Music) 2008
- Tom Beckham – Rebound (Apria Records) 2008
- Elio Villafranca Quartet – The Source In Between (Ceiba Tree Music) 2008
- Greg Lamy – What Are You Afraid Of? (Greg Lamy Quartet) 2006
- Compilation – The ObliqSound Remixes Vol. 2 (ObliqSound) 2006
- Francisco Pais Quintet – Not Afraid of Color (Fresh Sound) 2006
- Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee Quintet – Borrowed Time, Fresh Sound (2005)
- – Previous Misconceptions ( ) 2001
- Grand Pianoramax (nu-jazz) – Grand Pianoramax (ObliqSound) 2004
- Kalman Olah Trio – Contrasts & Parallels (MA Recordings) 2003
- Olivier Manchon Quartet – En Route… 2003
- Sebastian Noelle Quartet – Freedom Trail 2002
- Francesco Guaiana Trio – Nojaz (Exaudi Records) 2002
- Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival feat. Terence Blanchard & Dave Grusin (2001)
- Martin Buergi feat. Dave Samuels – The End of a Love Affair (Altrisuoni) 2001
- Pal Vasvari feat. Dave Samuels & Alex Acuna – Tales of The Princess (Partizan Records) 2001
- Berklee Studio Production Projects, Berklee (2000)
- Michael Cohen – Michael Cohen 2000
- Ben Adams Quartet – The Figured Wheel (Tonic Productions Corp.) 2000
- Janos Egri – Moods (Infoimpress) 1998
- Som Lajos & Zavodi Janos – Szaz Ev Zene (Royal Records) 1997
- In Line feat. Dave Samuels – Twins (Royal Records) 1996
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)
- Independent Music Award Finalist for his album ‘Night Songs’ (2008)
- IAJE Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education (2008)
- Independent Music Award Finalist for his album ‘Triumph'(2008)
- Gramofon “Jazz Album of the Year” Award for “Triumph” (2013)
- Won the Independent Music Award in Jazz Album Category, with his album ‘FREEDOM’. (2020)
- “Folk Song” (his composition) won the Honorable Mention Award at the International Songwriting Contest. (2022)
- “It’s a Beautiful Place” (his composition) Semi-Finalists for the International Songwriting Competition. (2023)
- Cyclic Episode/Eighty-One (from his album ‘UnStandard’) won 2nd place on the 2023 Unsigned Only Music Competition