photo · Francesco Gargiulli
What Nadav is doing now
A percussionist specializing in Middle Eastern percussion and drum set, Nadav composes and leads original productions and bands, and is a sought-after session percussionist, playing with adventurous artists in Israel and around the world.
Composer & Bandleader
Original productions for FeelBeit in Jerusalem, such as Mirror and Alma de Bata, and the bands Nadav leads and co-founded, from Bombaras to Playground Trio.
Session Percussionist
A wide range of percussion, with a specialty in traditional Middle Eastern instruments. Nadav's own setup joins them with a modern drum set to suit many bands and traditions: Persian, Moroccan, Algerian, Balkan and Hebrew song.
Educator
Lessons in Middle Eastern percussion and drum set, masterclasses and group workshops, built on Nadav's own method.
A percussionist of many traditions
Nadav Friedman is an Israeli percussionist, composer and educator. He creates original productions for FeelBeit in Jerusalem, among them Alma de Bata and Mirror, leads the Balkan-Gypsy band Bombaras, co-leads Playground Trio, and performs with artists including Itai Armon, Shimon Buskila and Rotem Cohen.
His music took shape in Jerusalem, where he was a founding member of the Andalusian orchestra HaMadrasa and co-founded the Soltz Trio. He went on to a Master's degree at the New England Conservatory in Boston, performing and studying with Danilo Pérez, Dave Holland and Jason Moran, and returned to Israel in 2023 with his debut album, Songs for Empathy. Today he teaches at the HaSadna and Kiryat Ono conservatories and in his studio in Neve Shalom, and gives masterclasses, most recently at Bar-Ilan University.
Recent videos
