Hironori Momoi　

Drummer/Composer/Producer

Hironori Momoi was born in Tokyo, Japan . His father always played music at home, so he grew up with music. He picked up the guitar as his first instrument at age 13. At age 15, he began to play drums and also piano. Growing up playing rock until at age 18, music had been the main thing of his life, but he realized that something was missing.

After he entered Sophia University, he discovered that missing piece, jazz. It brought him to a new world. He switched playing rock to jazz, and started dedicating himself to it. Since then, he had been performing in Japan, but as an aspiring jazz musician, he naturally decided to move to NYC to know jazz deeper.

In August 2007, Hironori moved to New York and started studying jazz at The City College of New York. He studied jazz/classical theory, playing in ensembles, composing and arranging with great musicians at CCNY, such as John Patitucci and Mike Holober. While a student, he won The Ervin Drake Scholarship and The Edward Rensin Memorial Award. In May 2010, he attained BFA degree in jazz drum performance from CCNY as summa cum laude.

His passion for jazz brought him to study in MA at Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College from fall 2010. Graduated in May 2012 and studied with great musicians such as Billy Hart, Michael Mossman,David Berkman and Antonio Hart. Hironori has been selected among the students to perform on the radio,WBGO and his composition "Showers" was featured. He has also performed at Lincoln Center for Champions of Jazz Benefit 2011.

In September 2013, he released his first album as a leader, titled “Liquid Knots” featuring Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on tenor saxophone, Nir Felder on guitar, Julian Shore on piano and Sam Minaie on bass.

Since 2014, Hironori has moved back to Japan and he is currently based in Tokyo. While he was in NYC, Hironori has performed at many renown venues such as Lincoln Center, ShapeShifter Lab, Canal Room, Bar Next Door, Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall and many more.

In February 2014, Hironori had a 3-week tour in Europe as a drummer of Kari Antila New York Trio. He also played at the biggest jazz festival in Finland, Pori Jazz Festival with Kari Antila quintet in July 2014. 

Hironori also has performed with many international acclaimed musicians such as Chihiro Yamanaka, Gilad Hekselman, Nir Felder, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Joe Sanders, Sam Minaie, Alexi Tuomarila and more.