Bio
Nadav Simon is a Chicago-based percussionist, producer, and composer. A dynamic force in the city’s music scene, he has shared the stage with Grammy and Tony Award winners and performed at premier venues including the Jazz Showcase, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Auditorium Theatre.
Nadav earned a BM from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, where he studied with multi-Grammy Award-winning percussionist Paul Wertico, and an MA in Jazz Studies at DePaul University under the guidance of drummer, composer, and musicologist Dana Hall. His recent performance collaborations include Leah and The Lake, Kyle Downs Trio, Matt Coglianese's “Cogstet”, Hannah Silverman, and The Nettes.
As a session musician, arranger, and producer, he has been described as “dynamic, tasteful, and focused.” He has produced Leah Shoshanah's full length record To Be Free (2025), and several singles for Hannah Silverman. In 2020, Nadav produced the podcast theme song for The Origianl Doll.
A leading voice in Chicago’s Jewish music community, Nadav has performed with Laurie Akers, Noah Aronson, Nathalie Young, Rick Recht, Rabbi Joe Black, Susan Louis-Friedman, RebbeSoul, and many others.
Most recently, Nadav premiered original jazz compositions at Hey Nonny in a series spotlighting new composers.