Koby Israelite

I was born in Tel Aviv Israel November the 23rd 1966. I studied piano at the conservatoire of music from the age of 9. By the time I was 14 years old I begged my parents for a drum-kit. Within 2 years I settled for a makeshift drum-set. At 17 I studied the drums for 2 years with The David Rich drumming school in Tel Aviv.

I came to London to pursue my studies at Guildhall. I began playing in and around London as a session drummer. I played, recorded and toured with various artists. During this period I started thinking about working on my own music. By 1999 I started writing and recording.

Once I had written enough material that I was happy with I sent a demo to John Zorn. As a writer I really like bands like 'Naked City' which incorporated different styles and genres in one album. My writing reflected this style and I thought that if anyone, John Zorn would dig it. My hunch was right. John Zorn asked me to start writing for Tzadik's 'Radical Jewish Series'.

I have three releases with Zorn's label 'Dance of the idiots' , 'Mood Swings' and 'Orobas'. The latter album is a selection of compositions from John Zorn's Masada Book Two 'Book of Angels'.

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