Ari Hoenig is a jazz drummer from Philadelphia who is known for a flexible approach that moves between straight-ahead playing and more abstract settings. He works in contemporary jazz and free jazz contexts and is recognised for a highly melodic way of playing rhythm.

Playing style

Hoenig is known for tuning his drums to a chromatic C scale, which lets him treat the kit more like a pitched instrument and improvise with notes and scales. He also develops unusual rhythmic patterns and uses parts of his body other than sticks, including his hands and elbows, to alter the sound of the drums.

Career

In the early 2000s, Hoenig begins leading his own quartet, with Jean-Michele Pilc on piano, Jacques Schwarz-Bart on tenor saxophone and Matt Penman on bass. He later performs mostly with a trio made up of the same musicians as the quartet, except Schwarz-Bart. He also performs internationally with other groups, and much of his work is based in the New England area, particularly New York City's Village area.

Recordings

Hoenig's first album, Time Travels, is released on 1K in 2000. His second album, The Life of a Day, appears on Ah HA Records in 2002. The Painter, recorded in 2003 and released on Smalls in early 2004, is the first of his albums to feature his working quartet; his two earlier releases are unaccompanied.