Omri Hason was born and raised in Israel. He took to drumming at the age of ten, starting on the drum kit, and later gravitating to hand-drums: the zarb, the darabuka, and the frame drum. The rich multi-cultural environment of his background nourished his first musical passions. Later, the rhythmic language of India deeply influenced his playing, as have years of study with the Iranian master drummer, Djamchid Chemirani.
He has lived since 1986 in Switzerland, teaching music, and recording and performing with various jazz and world music aggregations. Omri founded the groups „Kadim" and „Modus Quartet“ which feature musicians from several different musical cultures.
Highlights
Festivals
Summer Sonic Festival, Tokyo, Japan
Lowlands, Dronten, Holland
Jazzfestival Weimar-Jena, Germany
BeJazz Winterfestival, Bern, Switzerland
Nonstop Musix Festival, Tel Aviv, Israel
Monegros Desert Festival, Fraga, Spain
Festival Internationale Voci Audaci, Ascona, Switzerland
Ravensburger Jazzfestival, Germany
Summer Sonic Festival, Osaka, Japan
Electrocity, Lubiaz, Poland
Tonart-Jazzfestival, Theater Uri, Altdorf, Switzerland
Tamburi Mundi - International Frame Drum Festival, Germany
Creamfields, Liverpool, England
Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co, Irland.
Liederflut, Grimma, Deutschland
Bundesplatz Einweihung, Bern, Switzerland
Feufliazhe, Alp music festival, France
Uhuru Weltmusikfestival, Switzerland
Koblenz - Horizonte Festival, Germany
Perkussionfestival, Moods, Zurich, Switzerland
Clubs & Theater
Tokyo, Opera City,Japan
Zappa Club, Tel Aviv, Israel
Moods, Zurich, Switzerland
Tropentheater, Amsterdam, Holland
Cafe Yorozuya-sobei, Kobe, Japan
Mühle Hunziken, Rubigen, Switzerland
Theater De Lieve Vrouw, Amersfoort, Holland
Zehntscheuer, Ravensburg, Germany
SJU Jazzpodium, Utrecht, Holland
Kugayama Hall, Tokyo Japan
Kongresshaus, Biel, Switzerland
De Burcht,Leiden, Holland
Paul Klee Museum, Bern, Switzerland
Linouï, Luxembourg
Korzo, Den Haag, Holland
Kreml Kulturhaus, Zollhaus, Germany
Theater De Evenaar, Rotterdam, Holland
Stadt Theater Bern, Switzerland
TV
SF DRS „10 vor 10“, Modus Quartet TSR „Illico“, Hang & Horn
Radio
DRS2 „Musik der Welt“, Omri Hason portrait
DRS, RTR, RSR, RSI, „kiosque à musiques“ l'Eglise deChippis.
Dance
„music, please!“ Dampfzentrale Bern, Switzerland
"twilight", Paul Klee Museum Bern, Switzerland
Theater
„Ali Baba und die 4...zig Räuber“, Stadt Theater Bern, Switzerland
„Verbrennungen“, Stadt Theater Bern, Switzerland
Film
Ursula - Leben in Anderswo
Director: Rolf Lyssy
Reviews
Scwäbische Zeitung
Omri Hason is a master of persuasion because he continually succeeds in creating new ensembles, bringing together eastern and western instruments and musicians, and blending the beauties of oriental rhythms and melodies with elements of Jazz.
Der Bund
Omri Hason gently enchants a sonorous and rhythmic richness out of the darabuka, the frame drum and other types of hand-drum.
This is a great show to watch, as well as to hear.
Vaterland
it is inspiring when Omri Hason lets a whole ocean of tone colours flow from a single drum.
Reutlinger Nachrichten
He is an artist with his fingers, but he doesn't flaunt his dexterity; he is a quiet virtuoso.
ZO
One could watch Omri Hason's rapid-fire, virtuosic percussion playing for hours.
Berner Zeitung
and the percussionist Omri Hason proves with his oriental quartet that - given a thorough study of the musical souces - one can always make the open idiom of jazz one's own - without descending into kitsch or clichés.
Der Bund
Omri and company make clear from the start that their drums are full of melody and a great variety of tone colours and shades.
The harmonies and richness of sound make for an exciting experience.
Schwäbische Zeitung
This was the sound of four real virtuosi at work-with skill, with fantasy, with a feeling for sound, and with the filigreed handiwork of Omri Hason... TOPS!