Ari Hoenig er bandarískur jazztrommuleikari og uppfræðari sem er vel þekktur fyrir óvenjulega nálgun sína og er áfarm um að þróa hlutverk trommusettsins umfram hið hefðbundna gæsluhlutverk um hraða tónlitarinnar.
Hoenig hefur meðal annars þróað aðferð til að spila laglínur á trommur sínar og getur með því að beygja tóninn í hljóðfærum sínum spilað hvaða tóna krómatíska skalans sem er og spunnið yfir hljómaganga á sama hátt og þeir sem leika á hljóma- eða laglínuhljóðfæri.
Ari er fæddur inn í músíkalska fjölskyldu þar sem hann fékk að reyna sig á bæði fiðlu og píanó áður en trommurnar komu til sögunnar. Hann fetaði algenga braut metalsins og rokksins áður en jazzinn og spuninn tóku yfir tónlistarlíf hans.
Ari Hoenig leikur á tónleikum með gítarleikaranum Andrési Þór Gunnlaugssyni á Jazzhátíð Reykjavíkur 15. ágúst, en auk þess heldur hann fyrirlestur um list sína í Hörpu 16. ágúst kl 14.
Ari Hoenig (born on November 13, 1973 in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania), is a jazz drummer, composer and educator known for his unusual and intense approach to drumming emphasizing complex rhythms in direct harmony with other group members. Ari is widely noted particularly for his drumming not being relegated to just keeping tempo, or being a side issue to the music he plays in, but rather for elevating drumming as an indispensable part of the performance.
Hoenig is also known for his unique ability to modify the pitch of a drum by using drum sticks, mallets, and even parts of his body (such as his hands and elbows). Using this technique, he can play any note in the chromatic scale, virtually any melody, and even improvise on a chord structure in the same way as any other instrumentalist would.
Hoenig was born into a family of classically trained musicians. His father being a choral conductor and mother a violinist, he was exposed to classical and folk music at an early age. He played both piano and violin as a child, then rock and metal drums as a teen before settling into jazz and improvised music.
Hoenig performs with Icelandic guitarist Andres Thor at this years Reykjavik Jazz Festival, August 15th, but also hosts a master class about his art Saturday August 16th at 2 pm.
