Drummer/Composer Asaf Sirkis Interviewed at AAJ....And More

Since arriving in London from Israel at the end of the end of the '90s, Asaf Sirkis has earned a reputation as one of the world's premier drummers. His scintillating stick work has sparked saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensemble since its inception, as well as coloring the projects of saxophonist Tim Garland in recent years.

Yet this sensitive, cerebral drummer, who has drawn favorable comparison to legends Tony Williams and Jack DeJohnette, is not easy to pigeonhole. His own projects, particularly The Inner Noise church-organ/guitar/drums trio, are as creative as they are perhaps unusual, and mark Sirkis as an original creative force.

As at home in the jazz idiom as he is in a traditional Middle Eastern one, Sirkis' new trio of guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos and bassist Yaron Stavi charters new territories on The Monk (SAM, 2008). Lyrical, subtle music, underpinned and shaped by Sirkis' searching drumming, it is an utterly distinctive listening experience.

AAJ Contributor Ian Patterson spoke at length with Sirkis, about his new trio and The Monk, as well as his distinctive Inner Noise trio, the writing process and more. Check out Asaf Sirkis: The Endless Realm for all the details.

As part of AAJ's extensive coverage of Asaf Sirkis and The Monk, you can read Managing Editor John Kelman's review and listen to “Stone Bird," the opening track to The Monk, as today's AAJ Daily Download. AAJ is also featuring footage of Sirkis, guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos and bassist Yaron Stavi performing at the Romanian Restaurant in London in 2007 as its Daily Video.

AAJ is committed to providing the most extensive coverage available surrounding new releases, so be sure to check out all of our coverage of Asaf Sirkis and The Monk today!