Sharif Zaben

     Sharif Zaben is a drummer and pianist based in NYC and his hometown of Chicago - most notably as an alum of the legendary Johnny O'Neal trio.  Steeped in the African American tradition of music, Sharif is sought after for his swinging feel and his supportive attitude on the band stand.  "Sharif's beat has that snap to it!" explains bandleader and musical mentor Johnny O'Neal.  His playing has also been described as "a breath of fresh air,"  by trumpet master Roy Hargrove.

    Through a music scholarship to the University of Illinois at Chicago, Sharif gained valuable big band experience performing the repertoire of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Charles Mingus.  This experience was exemplified by the group's performance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts with the UIC big band, full choir, and guest artist trumpeter Orbert Davis.  While in college,  Sharif also ventured to south side Chicago jam sessions hosted by legendary tenor men Von Freeman at the New Apartment Lounge and at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge.  In addition to absorbing Chicago's strong and storied tradition at these sessions, he also gained bandstand experience with visiting national artists such as Roy Hargrove, Donald Harrison, Jaleel Shaw, James Cammack and David Wong.

    Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, Sharif went on to perform with Chicago's leading artists in top venues including Von Freeman at Andy's Jazz Club and the New Apartment Lounge, George Freeman at the Green Mill, Bobby Broom at Peter Miller's, a visiting Nicolas Payton at the House of Blues, Fred Anderson at the Velvet Lounge, and lead his own group at the famed Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase on top of free-lancing all over the city.

    In October of 2010, Sharif moved to New York City to further his career and to study with the great drummer and teacher, Kenny Washington.  He was heard at a late night jam session at Smalls Jazz Club by the legendary pianist and former Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers member, Johnny O'Neal.  "I was in the dressing room in back and heard this ride cymbal beat and had to come out and see who it was,"  explained O'Neal.  Johnny asked Sharif to join his trio and granted him his first NYC gig in February of 2011 at Smoke Jazz Club.  For the following 2 years, Sharif performed in the Johnny O'Neal Trio every Saturday night at Smoke in uptown Manhattan and Sunday nights at Smalls in Greenwich Village.  "It's a dream come true to play regularly with a master musician like Johnny," Sharif says, "And, every Saturday we'd play after one of my heros like Ron Carter and some of the best drummers in the world like Willie Jones III, Lewis Nash, Greg Hutchinson, and a few times after my teacher Kenny Washington."  Sharif has also performed with the Johnny O'Neal trio at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on numerous occasions and at Twin's Jazz Club in Washington, D.C.

     Other highlights since Sharif's move to NY include sitting in on Roy Haynes' drums at Birdland, a video taped performance with the legendary Lou Donaldson and the Johnny O'Neal Trio at Smoke for Lou's induction into the Jazz Hall of Fame, performing with Jeremy Pelt in Rochester, NY, and playing a special engagement at Smoke Jazz Club with the Johhny O'Neal Trio featuring Freddie Hendrix.  Sharif has also shared the stage with such greats as Wycliffe Gordon,  Barry Harris, Roy Hargrove, Harold Maybern, Jacky Terasson, Sullivan Fortner, Rodney Whitaker, Greg Osby, Javon Jackson, JJ Hasan Shakur, and Gerald Cannon.

      Video recordings of past performances at Smalls (54 performances and counting with the Johnny O'Neal Trio, Sacha Perry Quartet, and Philip Harper Quintet) can be viewed via his artist profile here.