New York is one of the capitals of the jazz world. Ferenc Németh conquered this world with drums.

He has been a staple in the New York jazz life for over 20 years both as a musician and composer. Here he is rehearsing with his band in Manhattan.

The famous Hungarian musician comes from a small village with a population of only 1000, Zalacsány.

He was born into a musical family, his father was a drummer as well.

My parents tell the story of how I drummed as a 2-year-old. Moreover, my mother said we needed to take the drumsticks with me to daycare.

One day, when we’d forgotten them, I cried until my father went home to get them for me.

Drumming has always been there for me because of my father. This is our secret connection. A language only we spoke.

I loved to go to those weddings and parties where my dad had been taking me.

On Friday or Saturday afternoons, the car would often require cleaning, and there was one condition for me to join my dad: I had to help with the task.

His musical studies began in Zalaapáti and Zalaegerszeg at the music school. From there he proceeded to the Music High School in Győr.

I was around 15-16 when I got a taste of jazz. Even though it has a structure, it carries a freedom where a person can truly express themselves.

I got accepted at the age of 18 to the jazz department of Liszt Academy.

While I was finishing my studies there, I also applied to Berklee Music Boston, where I received a scholarship. That's how I went to Boston at the age of 22.

I applied to the New England Conservatory and spent a year there in the master's program.

During that time, I also got accepted into the Thelonious Monk Institute.

Every 2 years they gather a band together from all over the world. When I was there, the band had 7 members.

This is where I met Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, Ron Carter, John Scofield and Dave Holland.

Met so many musicians there whom I later played with.

I finished in 2003 and moved to New York and have been there ever since.

Nowadays, New York is the center of jazz, taking over from what was once New Orleans and Chicago. Modern jazz thrives in New York.

The West Village is the area in New York with the biggest jazz clubs.

We are currently standing in front of the Blue Note Jazz Club, where I have performed extensively.

I love this area because almost all the acclaimed jazz clubs of the city are located here.

A few blocks from here is the Village Vanguard, there's the Smalls, there used to be the Fat Cat, Mezzrow.

I not only perform a lot in this area but also attend concerts here.

Playing at the Blue Note didn't happen overnight; I started from one club to another or even played at restaurants.

I played at many different venues and progressed step by step.

Before Covid I toured 220-230 days a year, so I pretty much spent one week a month here during which I had 1-2 gigs.

This routine has settled this way since.

Joe's Pub is in this same area, where we are during a sound check for their concert this evening.

He's playing in Emilio Solla and Antonio Lizana's Quartet, they even made an album together.

Ferenc regularly plays in various bands (besides his own) alongside other well-known figures of the New York jazz scene.

This music is a mix of Argentine folk music and flamenco with some jazz.

I have been playing with Emilio for over 15 years.

2 years ago we won a Latin Grammy, which was kind of like winning the lottery.

I play a lot with members of the jazz world, Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek, Joshua Redman, John Patitucci, Lionel Loueke etc.

There are a lot of musicians who are iconic in this world.

Although my music is not exclusively jazz, which is the common language here.

On top of that, I have studied a wide variety of music from South-American to African music, I have also been to India 7 times.

What interests other musicians about me is that I bring Hungarian folk elements into my music.

I incorporate motives from Hungarian folk music into my music, particularly because I studied Bartók and Kodály, and their works have left a significant impression on me.

When I write music, these influences instinctively come out.

My album 'Freedom' was released in 2020, I spent a good 6-8 months intensively studying Hungarian folk music and incorporating its elements into my compositions.

The album is classified as jazz, but I must say there is definitely something unique about it that you cannot find elsewhere.

Freedom won the Independent Music Awards in Jazz Album Category.

His popularity is also proven by the fact that he is the face of a major musical instrument company and many drum brands support him.

Four years ago, I was contacted because I have an application called "Drum School" that is a drum learning tool that I developed.

They are now promoting their electronic drum amplifiers with this app, which are made for electronic drums specifically.

This is a huge honor.

Within the application you can choose to learn left or right hand only, left or right foot, you can slow it down.

It offers over 400 different grooves and styles, from Latin-American to drum and bass to rock and roll, all sorts.

In its category, I would say it is the first app that actually teaches you how to play the drums.

The youngest Ferenc Nemeth, who is now over a year old, is well on his way to becoming a talented and recognized drummer like his father.

The tradition passes from father to son, Ferenc also took the first steps of drumming watching his father play.

As you could see he had also been here on the sound check, he sat there, playing drums the whole time for 3 hours,

It's something you can't teach, especially to such a young child.

Ever since he was a few months old, he has sat in my lap while I played, watching and enjoying the music.

I can see that he has the talent and quite a good technique for his age. It's a great feeling for a father.

In addition to his talent and openness to possibilities, of course a lot of practice, has helped Ferenc as well,

to become a recognized artist on his way from Zalacsány to New York.

In my own band, I have the freedom to choose who I play with, where and when we play, and I write the music.

Success comes from a lot of work on yourself. You definitely need the talent but you also need connections and opportunities.

They say that success happens when preparation meets opportunity.

If you are not prepared enough, even if you get opportunities, you won't be able to take full advantage of them.

At the same time you can be the most prepared person if you sit at home don't put yourself out there, no one will know about you and you'll never get opportunities.

You need a balance between these two.

I practice all the time, listen to music. I learn new things all the time

But at the same time I also go down to the clubs to meet new people, new and old musicians.

Some days I practise an hour, some days I practise 3-4 hours but I practise every single day.

If I don't sit down to the drums for even a day, then I don’t feel good.

And sometimes my wife tells me; "Go practice, I can see you’re not feeling well".