Dan Pugach Nonet

Dan Pugach is a GRAMMY® nominated drummer and composer living in Brooklyn, NY. He was born in Israel and moved to the United States in 2006. He served as the drummer for The Air Force Band in the IDF while attending the Rimon School of Jazz at the same time. He received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Terri Lynn Carrington, Hal Crook, and Joe Lovano, and an M.A. in music from the City College of New York, where he studied with Mike Holober and Scott Reeves.

DAN PUGACH NONET is comprised of six horns and a driving rhythm-section that features inventive arrangements of jazz, folk, pop and Brazilian repertoire, as well as Pugach’s energetic original compositions.

This ensemble tours regularly and has played at Bird’s Eye Basel, The Zone in Tel Aviv, Blue Note Jazz, Smalls Jazz Club, The Jazz Loft, The Jazz Estate, Stowe Jazz Festival as well as Performing Arts Centers across the nation.

His debut 2018 album release “Plus One” made it to the top 20 jazz radio charts and includes Dan’s masterful arrangement Jolene, the Dolly Parton classic, which was nominated for a GRAMMY ® in Best Arrangement, Instruments with Vocals, alongside vocalist Nicole Zuraitis.

"The Dan Pugach Nonet wowed our audience; it was especially rewarding to hear audience members say this ensemble gave the best performance ever heard in the theatre."
— Pat Evans, Manager, Warren Concert Association

“Nicole Zuraitis and The Dan Pugach Nonet delivered a gorgeous evening of joyful jazz. Nicole’s vocals and the band’s musicianship is just outstanding, whether charming us with standards or taking our breath away with original compositions. The huge crowd was just thrilled!"
— Anna Becker, Executive Director, On Stage At Kingsborough