Asaf Sirkis (; born 1969) is an Israeli

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

drummer, composer and educator. He is a member of the

jazz rock Jazz fusion (also known as jazz rock, jazz-rock fusion, or simply fusion) is a popular music Music genre, genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and jazz improvisation, improvisation with rock music, funk, a ...

band

Soft Machine Soft Machine are an English Rock music, rock band from Canterbury, Kent. The band were formed in 1966 by Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin. Soft Machine were central in the Canterbury scene; they became o ...

Early life

Sirkis spent his teens and early twenties in

Rehovot Rehovot (, / ) is a city in the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. In it had a population of . Etymology Israel Belkind, founder of the Bilu (movement), Bilu movement, proposed the name "Rehovot ...

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

where he began drum lessons aged 12. His early musical influences were

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Allan Holdsworth Allan Holdsworth (6 August 1946 – 15 April 2017) was a British jazz and rock music, rock guitarist, violinist and composer. He contributed to numerous bands, including Soft Machine, U.K. (band), U.K., The Tony Williams Lifetime, Pierre Moerl ...

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, classical music, Arabic, Balkan, Klezmer, Pop, and Israeli folk music. In 1990, shortly after he completed his three-year

national service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...

he started his full-time professional career working as an all-around drummer in Israel. He has played with notable jazz musicians from Israel and abroad including Harold Rubin,

Albert Beger Albert Beger (born 1959) is a saxophonist, flutist and an academy lecturer from Israel. Beger is a composer in genres that include post-bop Post-bop is a jazz term with several possible definitions and usages.Yudkin, Jeremy (2007), p. 125 It has ...

Yair Dalal Yair Dalal (; born 25 July 1955) is an Israeli musician of Iraqi-Jewish descent. His main instruments are the oud and the violin, and he also sings as accompaniment. He composes his own music and draws on Arab and Jewish traditions, as well as ...

and Eyal Sela.

Education

Sirkis has studied the art of the south Indian vocal percussion (

Konnakol Konnakol (also spelled Konokol, Konakkol, Konnakkol) ( koṉṉakkōl) () is the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music. Konnakol is the spoken component of solkattu, which refers to a combination of konnako ...

) at the Tamil centre in west London under the guidance of master percussionist Paramasamy Kirupakaran and from various other sources.

Career

In 1993 Sirkis moved to

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

and soon after formed the Asaf Sirkis trio featuring Kobi Arad on keyboards, and Gabriel Mayer on electric bass. With that line up he recorded his first solo album ''One Step Closer'' (1996) as well as touring in Israel with the trio. In 1997 he formed the 'Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise' trio. The Inner Noise was a unique trio and the first jazz/rock group to incorporate an innovative line up of church organ guitar and drums. Asaf left Israel in 1998, settling in London in 1999. In 2000 Sirkis re-formed the Inner Noise trio with

Steve Lodder Steve Lodder, born Stephen John Lodder (born 10 April 1951, St. Helier, Jersey), is a British keyboardist, composer, and organist. He played piano as a child and took up organ at age 14. He studied organ at Gonville and Caius College, and after ...

on church organ and Mike Outram on guitar. The band has recorded three acclaimed albums - ''Inner Noise'', ''We Are Falling'' and ''The Song Within''. Shortly after he arrived in London he met

Gilad Atzmon Gilad Atzmon (, ; born 9 June 1963) is an Israeli-born British saxophonist, novelist, political activist, and writer. As a musician, he is best known as a saxophonist and bandleader. His instruments include the saxophone, accordion, clarinet ...

with whom he formed The Orient House Ensemble and recorded 7 albums, including ''Exile'', which won "Best CD of the Year" at the BBC Jazz Award 2003 while the band was nominated for "Best Band" in 2004. After almost 10 years in the OHE, Sirkis left the band in 2009 to focus on his solo career and other collaborations. Since 2006 Sirkis has been collaborating with reeds player and composer

Tim Garland Tim Garland (born 19 October 1966) is a British jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His compositions draw from modern jazz and classical concert music. Career Garland was born in Ilford, Essex and grew up in Canterbury, Kent. He starte ...

with whom he toured the world and recorded many albums. Since 2014, Sirkis is co-leading the Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet together with Polish singer/composer Sylwia Bialas. The Quartet features pianist Frank Harrison and Scottish bassist Kevin Glasgow. Their debut album ''Come To Me'' was released in 2014 at the

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. Come To Me has been selected as one of the best albums of 2015 at

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website by several reviewers and the band has toured extensively since the release date. The Quartet's new double album 'Our New Earth' is scheduled to be released in 2019 on Moonjune Records. Since 2016, Asaf has been collaborating with various artists on the Moonjune Records record label. Notably, the Reuter/Wingfield/Stavi Sirkis collaboration album has been selected as a masterpiece of 2017 at DownBeat magazine as well as receiving rave reviews. Asaf can be heard on many Moonjune albums alongside Spanish guitarist

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, Nguyen Le, Dewa Budjana, Indonesian pianist Dwiki Dharmawan,

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, Jorge Padro, Beledo and many more. As of 2017, he is a principal lecturer in jazz drums at

Leeds College of Music Leeds Conservatoire (formerly known as The Leeds Music Centre, the City of Leeds College of Music, and Leeds College of Music) is a higher education music conservatoire based in the Quarry Hill district of Leeds, England. It was founded in 19 ...

and teaches drums and Konnakol at

Trinity Laban Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is a music, dance, and musical theatre conservatoire based in South East London. It was formed in 2005 as a merger of two older institutions – Trinity College of Music and Laban Dance Centre. Trini ...

Conservatory in London. In January 2023, Asaf joined British Jazz-Rock group

and has been touring world wide with the band as well as recording a single for My Only Wish record label (released 2024). Asaf has been working with many other international artists such as pianist

Gwilym Simcock Gwilym Simcock (born 24 February 1981) is a Welsh pianist and composer working in both jazz and classical music. He was chosen as one of the 1000 Most Influential People in London by the ''Evening Standard'' in 2009. He was featured on the fr ...

,Jazz breaking news: Gwilym Simcock, Tim Garland and Asaf Sirkis shine as luminous Lighthouse fill the Forge
by Stephen Graham, 16 May 2012 John Abercrombie,

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, saxophonist

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, Nicolas Meier,

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, bassist

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, saxophonist

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, Celine Bonacina and many more.

Discography

As leader and collaborator

*(2022) Asaf Sirkis,
Solar flash
*(2019) The Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet, ''Our New Earth'' *(2016) Asaf Sirkis, "Full Moon" *(2014) The Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet, ''Come to Me'' *(2013) Asaf Sirkis Trio, ''Shepherd's Stories'' *(2012) Simcock/Garland/Sirkis, ''Lighthouse'' ACT *(2010) Asaf Sirkis Trio, ''Letting Go'' *(2008) Asar Sirkis Trio, ''The Monk'' *(2007) Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise, ''The Song Within'' *(2005) Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise, ''We are Falling'' *(2003) Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise, ''Inner Noise'' *(1998) Asaf Sirkis Trio, ''One Step Closer''

As a sideman

*(1990) Biological Madness – ''Biological Madness'' *(1991) Odeon – ''Odeon'' *(1992) Tact – ''Downtown'' *(1993) Harold Rubin – ''Trialog'' *(1993) Changes – ''Changes'' *(1994) Rami Shuler – ''With One Breath'' *(1994) Return to Zero – ''Return to Zero'' *(1994) Fantasy Jazz Trio – ''F.J.T.'' *(1995)

– ''The Primitive'' *(1995) Return to Zero – ''Back for More'' *(1996) Harold Rubin – ''Blue Bag'' *(1997) Albert Beger – ''This Life'' *(1997) Amir Perelman Trio – ''Trio 97 Vol. 1'' *(1998) Eyal Maoz & Asaf Sirkis – ''Freedom Has Its Own Taste'' *(1999) Christoph Spendel – ''The Three Worlds'' *(1999) Adel Salameh – ''Nuzha'' *(2000)

& the Orient House Ensemble – ''Orient House'' *(2001) Eyal Sela – ''Sela'' *(2001) Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble – ''Nostalgico'' *(2001) Various Artists – ''The More We Know: 30 Years of Enja Records'' *(2001) Nick Homes – ''Not Tonight'' *(2002) The Meier Group – ''Ribbon in the Wind'' *(2002) Simon Fisher Turner – ''Swift'' *(2002) Phil Robson – ''Impish'' *(2002) Mark Latimer – ''Unhinged, Take 2'' *(2002) Lee Gibson – ''Songs of Time And Place'' *(2003) Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble – ''Exile'' *(2003) John Williams – ''Tenorama'' *(2003) Nick Homes – ''Indian Summer'' *(2004) Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble – ''MusiK'' *(2005) Tim Garland's Lighthouse – ''If The Sea Replied'' *(2005) Nicolas Meier Group – ''Orient'' *(2005) Simon Fisher Turner – ''LANA LARA LATA'' *(2005) Tassos Spiliotopoulos Quartet – ''Wait for Dusk'' *(2005) John Donaldson Trio – ''Music Box'' *(2006) Alcyona Mick – ''Around the Sun'' *(2006) Gilad Atzmon Presents Artie Fishel & The Promised Band – ''Artie Fishel'' *(2006) Klaus Gesing – ''Heart Luggage'' *(2007) Nicolas Meier – ''YUZ'' *(2007)

Glauco Venier Glauco Venier (born 8 September 1962) is an Italian jazz pianist and composer. Life and career Venier was born in Sedegliano, Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia G ...

& Yuri Goloubev – ''Homage a Duke'' *(2007) Sirkis/Venier/Goloubev – ''Intermezzo'' *(2007) Tim Garland – ''The Mystery'' (featuring Chick Corea) *(2007) Law/Burgess/Sirkis – ''The Art of Sound Volume 1'' *(2007) Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble – ''Refuge'' *(2007) Dan Stern – ''Traces'' *(2007)

– ''The Northern Underground Orchestra'' *(2008) SGS Group (Sirkis/Goloubev/Simcock) – ''Presents...'' *(2008) Nicolas Meier – ''Silence Talks'' *(2008) Massimo Colombo Trio – ''Il Goico Delle Forme'' *(2009)

Sarah Gillespie Sarah Gillespie is a British American singer songwriter and writer based in London. She has four albums, known for combining poetic lyrics with folk, blues and elements of jazz. Her debut collection of poetry, ''Queen Ithaca Blues'', was publi ...

– ''Stalking Juliet'' *(2009) Tim Garland Lighthouse Trio – ''Libra'' *(2009) Yuri Goloubev – ''Metafore Semplici'' *(2009) Gilad Atzmon – ''In Loving Memory of America'' *(2009)

Polly Scattergood Polly Scattergood (born 18 October 1986) is an English singer and songwriter. She has been described as wikt:ethereal, ethereal, dark, intense and quirky, while her musical style has been described as "early 21st century electropop, electro-dan ...

– ''Polly Scattergood'' *(2009) John Law's Art of Sound Trio – ''Volume 4, Congregation'' *(2009) Nicolas Meier – ''Journey'' *(2009) Simon Fisher Turner – ''Music From Films You Should Have Seen'' *(2009) Nicolas Meier Trios – ''Breeze'' *(2009) Asaf Sirkis & Eyal Maoz Duo – ''Elementary Dialogues'' *(2010) Asaf Sirkis/Sassi Mizrachi/ Kobi Arad – ''Vagabond'' *(2010) Jonathan Cohen's Time Loves Changes Octet – ''Life Cycles'' *(2010) Tassos Spiliotopoulos – ''Archipelagos'' *(2011) Alex Hutton Trio – ''Legentis'' *(2011) Yuri Goloubev Trio – ''Titanic for a Bike'' *(2011) Carlo Magni Quartet – ''Notturni'' *(2012) John Law Congregation Featuring Asaf Sirkis & Yuri Goloubev – ''Three Leaps of the Gazelle'' *(2013) Nicolas Meier Group – ''From Istanbul to Ceuta With a Smile'' *(2013) Maciek Pysz Trio – ''Insight'' *(2013)

– ''Faith & Grace'' *(2014) Tim Garland's Lighthouse – ''Songs For The North Sky'' *(2014) Fabienne Ambuhl Trio – ''Glitterwood'' *(2015)

– ''Proof of Light'' *(2015) Alex Hutton Trio – ''Magna Carta Suit'' *(2015) Noel Langley – ''Edentide'' *(2015) Maciek Pysz – ''A Journey'' *(2016) Marco Cortesi – ''Spring Thing'' *(2016) Celine Bonacina – ''Crystal Rain'' *(2016) Tim Garland – ''One'' *(2017) Dwiki Dharmawan – ''Pasar Klewer'' *(2017) Wingfield/Reuter/Stavi/Sirkis – ''The Stone House'' *(2017) Dusan Jevtovic – ''No Answer'' *(2017) Wingfield/Reuter/Sirkis – ''Lighthouse'' *(2018) Mark Wingfield – ''Tales from the Dreaming City'' *(2018) The Lie Detectors – ''Secret Unit'' *(2018) Dwiki Dharmawan – ''Rumah Batu'' *(2018) Ant Law – ''Life I Know (guest appearance)'' *(2019) Markus Reuter – ''Truce'' *(2020) Markus Reuter – ''Oculus'' *(2020) Dwiki Dharmawan – ''Hari Ketiga'' *(2020) Tim Garland – ''Refocus'' *(2020) Nicolas Meier & Dewa Budjana – ''Flying Spirits'' *(2021) Markus Reuter – ''Truce 2'' *(2022) Anchor And Burden – ''Kosmonautik Pilgrimage'' *(2023) Emma Rawicz – ''Croma'' *(2024) Mark Wingfield – ''The Gathering'' *(2024) Beledo – ''Flotando en el vacio''

References

External links

Asaf's websiteYouTube channel
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Selected interviews

Mike Dolbear interviews Asaf SirkisAsaf's interview at Jazz AustraliaBBC interview with Claire MartinInterview with Richard SharmaSussex Jazz Magazine

Selected reviews

Budd Kopman's 5 star review at All About Jazz website - The Sirkis Bialas International Quartet, ''Come To Me''John Kelman's review of ''Shepherd's Stories''
*

Mike Dolbar's review of ''Shepherd's Stories''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sirkis, Asaf 1969 births Living people Israeli jazz composers Israeli drummers Israeli music educators Jazz drummers People from Rehovot Musicians from Tel Aviv Soft Machine members