Hailing from Tel Aviv and now based in the Brooklyn jazz hub, Yali Shimoni is making serious waves in the contemporary jazz scene. As a highly accomplished drummer, composer, and arranger, his heritage and incredible list of mentors have clearly fuelled his path, from playing legendary venues like Mezzrow and The Jazz Gallery to co-leading his own band, Pangea. With his involvement in upcoming records with renowned artists like Anat Fort and his recent release with the Ofer Cohen group on Toot Records, 2024 is shaping up to be a truly massive year for Yali’s growing discography.
We caught up with the dynamic musician to discuss his early life in music, the inspiration he draws from jazz giants, and the story behind his latest work. From collaborating with peers and idols to what the future holds, Yali gives us a candid look behind the drum kit.
It’s great to be speaking with you today, Yali, thanks for dropping by. When did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you?
“I started making music at a very young age. My father, Ran Shimoni, is an acclaimed drummer in the Israeli music industry. He has played with Yehudit Ravitz, Rami Fortis, Barry Saharoff and more. I first approached the drums at age five and slowly realized it was the only thing I really want to spend my time doing. I learned piano and guitar throughout my childhood, but drums have always been my passion.”
“I've had the great honour of studying with the late great David Z. Rich, who has worked with Thelonious Monk and Joe Morello. David gave me a sense of the tradition of the instrument and gave me tools for life on the drums. By being in different educational musical environments, I had the privilege of working with different people who have helped me make progress in this art form, such as: Yuval Cohen, Yonatan Voltzok, Barak Mori, Ben Street, Craig Weinrib, Eric McPherson, Reggie Workman and more. I'm honoured to have met these people and hope to pay them respect in my creation.”
Can you tell us a bit about some of your new releases and what they mean to you?
“There are three upcoming releases in which I participated and I'm very excited about. First being Ofer Cohen's 'Stretch and Fold' on Toot Records. This record has been a joy making. Ofer's music has what I would consider a perfect combination of humour and seriousness, and it feels light and emotional at the same time. The process of making this record was very natural, because we played about six shows of this music in the month before getting in the studio, so by the time we started recording, we already had a strong sense of the music and each other's playing. I'm very happy with the way this record came about, and I hope it reaches many ears.”
“The second release I'm very excited about is Nadav Erlich's 'Live at Beit Ha'amudim, feat. Anat Fort', which will be released in 2026 on the Lyonhill Records label. This record was a special experience for me. The band consisted of myself, Joe Melnicove (flute, based in NY), Nadav Erlich (bass, based in Switzerland), and Anat Fort (based in Tel Aviv). It was an honour sharing the stage with these brilliant musicians and paying respect to the music of one of our biggest idols - Paul Motian. I'm excited to see this record come to life.”
“The last release coming out soon is a collaboration I did with Sagi Zoref and Tamar Sonn. This will be released in 2026 on NaNa Disc Records. Our process started with a few simple demos that Sagi showed me, and together we built them into rich and complex songs. I feel like artistically this represents both of our visions, and I'm very pleased with the way this turned out. In addition, this was an interesting experience, since this album leans more towards rock/pop, and I usually play jazz. Another record I've played on, and is still in the making, is my band Pangea's debut record. We recorded it in 2023, and the release date is yet to be determined. This album features original music by all of us, and I'm very excited for the world to hear it.”
Are there any artists, moments, or experiences that influenced you when writing the release?
“My biggest inspiration when writing music is John Coltrane. A titan of this art form, I feel like Coltrane's approach to composition, especially in his late period, is unique and inspiring. Whenever I sit down to write or come up with a drum part, I'm trying to channel the inspiration and spirit that I hear in Coltrane's music. It's a perfect balance of beauty and complexity.”
How would you describe the sound on your latest release? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you first began?
“I feel like the sound on all of these upcoming releases is an accurate representation of where I was at during these recordings. It's always tricky with albums, because by the time they're ready to release, you've already shifted your craft and might be in a different place, artistically. I think that these three records mark three periods in my development that are crucial to me. Also, each project has a pretty different stylistic approach, so you can hear me dealing with different materials and choices.”
Is there a central message or theme you were trying to convey in your latest release? Is there a moment in the release that really captures that idea?
“What's most important for me is minimalism and purity. Generally in life, I believe quality has a bigger power than quantity, and I try to convey that in my music and in my playing. I strive to have the most beautiful sound I can get out of the instrument, and make the simplest statements shine bright in a different light. A big part of my sound and my playing are my influences, and I think that an experienced ear could definitely recognize where I'm coming from.”
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations as an artist? Where do you see yourself in the next few years, both musically and personally?
“I hope to keep growing and learning. Music is a humbling experience, because there's always infinite knowledge to learn and greater heights to reach. I feel grateful to have been around older and more experienced peers, because that alone gave me so much in this life. I hope that my music would reach more ears, to expand my vocabulary and to strengthen my concept.”
What's next after this release? Do you have any new releases or shows on the horizon?
“Other than these three, we're still working on the new Pangea record. It's a bit complicated since we're not all in the same country, but with time I believe we'll release it to the world. This record has a great value to me, because it's the first time I've played in a co-lead band. We all have equal responsibilities in this group, and we all trust each other. This album is very dear to my heart and I hope that outside listeners could also hear its uniqueness.”
What sort of reception have you had to your latest release? Are there any memorable moments that stand out?
“So far, I've gotten really good feedback on Ofer's record! The sound and mixing engineers did a beautiful job, and they really make the music shine. With recordings, I feel like often the mixing work doesn't do justice with the actual raw material, but in this case, I feel like it gives a clear image of the music that was happening in the studio during those sessions. I'm happy to be supporting other people's music and to have them trust me with it.”
Is there anything you would like to say to our audience? How can they connect with you and help support you?
“Support local musicians and local clubs! With social media and AI gaining more and more strength, I feel like musicians are having a harder time reaching an audience. Go out, support the music, meet the artists, give feedback! As much as the music is a personal process, in the end of the day we just want to share it with the world!”
It's clear that Yali’s trajectory is on a steep ascent, driven by a deep respect for jazz history combined with a fresh, collaborative spirit. His dedication to 'minimalism and purity' in his playing, along with a constant drive to grow, ensures that his music will continue to resonate with listeners.
As he continues to expand his sound and vocabulary across multiple projects, it’s a brilliant time to get familiar with this compelling drummer. You can connect with Yali Shimoni and follow his musical journey on Instagram.
