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Ofri Nehemya

Ofri Nehemya is an Israeli-born, New York-based drummer, composer, bandleader, and ensemble collaborator whose work joins jazz and Middle Eastern music.

DrumsComposerBandleaderEnsemble collaborator6 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Ofri Nehemya

Nehemya's official biography traces his early drum and piano studies in Israel, work with Eli Degibri and Avishai Cohen, and 2016 move to New York. It documents subsequent touring and recording with Omer Avital at the meeting point of jazz and Middle Eastern music.[1]

The biography distinguishes his long-running Shai Maestro collaboration, the GTO Trio, and a quartet formed for his own compositions. That quartet's debut, Time Traveler, arrived in 2025 after his two ECM recordings with Maestro.[1][2][3][4]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader, drummer, and composer

Ofri Nehemya Quartet

Nehemya formed the quartet for his original music and released its first full-length statement as Time Traveler.[1][2]

Drummer and long-term collaborator

Shai Maestro ensemble

ECM documents Nehemya in Maestro's trio on The Dream Thief and in the expanded quartet on Human.[1][3][4]

Co-founder and drummer

GTO Trio

Co-founded 2018

The trio joins Nehemya with pianist Gadi Lehavi and bassist Tal Mashiach in a project rooted in their long musical friendship.[1]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2018 · ECM Records

The Dream Thief

Drummer with the Shai Maestro Trio

Maestro's first ECM leader date credits Nehemya on drums with bassist Jorge Roeder across the trio program.[3]

Release details

2021 · ECM Records

Human

Drummer with Shai Maestro's quartet

Human expands the Maestro-Roeder-Nehemya trio with trumpeter Philip Dizack and retains Nehemya's drum role.[4]

Release details

2025 · Adhyâropa Records

Time Traveler

Leader, drummer, and composer

Nehemya's debut leader album presents eight original compositions with Tomer Bar, Nitzan Bar, and Tal Mashiach.[1][2]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Time Traveler on Bandcamp

Hear Nehemya's complete debut as a leader with composition, personnel, and recording credits.

Official video archive

Watch quartet, collaborative, and ensemble performances selected on Nehemya's artist site.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Tue, Aug 25, 7:00 PM

Kurt Rosenwinkel Riptet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Tue, Aug 25, 9:00 PM

Kurt Rosenwinkel Riptet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Wed, Aug 26, 7:00 PM

Kurt Rosenwinkel Riptet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Wed, Aug 26, 9:00 PM

Kurt Rosenwinkel Riptet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Thu, Aug 27, 7:00 PM

Kurt Rosenwinkel Riptet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Thu, Aug 27, 9:00 PM

Kurt Rosenwinkel Riptet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography and project history

    Ofri Nehemya

  2. [2] Time Traveler audio, compositions, and personnel

    Ofri Nehemya and Adhyâropa Records

  3. [3] The Dream Thief release and trio credits

    ECM Records

  4. [4] Human release and quartet credits

    ECM Records