ALI GERAMI
Drummer & Drum Instructor
Ali Gerami, born on October 17, 1981, in Tehran, is a musician, drummer, and one of the artists whose musical journey has been shaped by a continuous exploration of the dialogue between Iranian music and contemporary jazz.
His passion for music began in childhood, when he dreamed of becoming a professional musician. Growing up in an environment where Iranian traditional music was widely practiced and appreciated, he naturally gravitated toward this rich musical heritage. His formal musical education began with Tombak, the traditional Persian percussion instrument. He later continued his studies of Radif, the classical repertoire of Persian music, through Setar and vocal training.
After nearly a decade of dedicated work in Iranian traditional music, accompanied by numerous performances and concerts both in Iran and abroad, Ali’s musical path gradually expanded toward jazz. He began studying drums and exploring the language, history, and improvisational principles of jazz. This new direction led him to a fundamental artistic question: How could the melodic and rhythmic heritage of Iranian traditional and folk music be brought into meaningful dialogue with the freedom and improvisational spirit of jazz?
The result of this exploration was HUMSA, a music group founded in 2012. In 2016, HUMSA released its debut self-titled album, HUMSA, in collaboration with his close friend Pouya Assadian. The project became an important milestone in Ali’s ongoing exploration of fusion music and his attempt to create a contemporary musical language rooted in Iranian heritage while engaging with the global vocabulary of jazz.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by his desire to promote and develop jazz in Iran, Ali co-founded Jazz House Tehran with the support and collaboration of his close friend Amir Mehrizi. The institution is dedicated specifically to jazz education, live performances, and creating a space for musicians and audiences to engage with jazz in Iran.
Another major chapter in Ali’s artistic journey has been the establishment of Medal Studio, founded together with his close friend Alireza Rohbani. Medal Studio is a specialized recording and live-streaming studio and record label focused on Iranian fusion and contemporary music. Through this platform, Ali and his collaborators seek not only to record and release new works, but also to promote fusion music through both audio and visual media and create a broader platform for contemporary Iranian musicians.
Looking back on his musical journey, Ali describes what he has accumulated over the years with characteristic humility: a little knowledge of Iranian music, a little rhythm, and a modest understanding of the music of our contemporary era.
Yet behind these simple words lies more than four decades of curiosity, learning, performance, collaboration, and experimentation—a journey between tradition and modernity, between rhythm and melody, and ultimately between Iranian musical heritage and the ever-evolving language of jazz.
