The Sounding Room: David Hurley

David Hurley is a Detroit-based percussionist and improviser whose work is defined by a restless exploration of timbre, texture, and spontaneous dialogue. A fixture of the Midwest’s creative music community, Hurley is recognized for a “multidirectional” approach to the drum kit, often incorporating found objects and unconventional percussion to blur the lines between rhythm and atmosphere. His career is marked by deep collaborations with leading figures in free jazz and avant-garde music. He has performed alongside legendary saxophonists Jack Wright, Alex Harding, Skeeter Shelton, and the late Byard Lancaster. Hurley is a frequent contributor to the Dr. Professor Leonard King Orchestra, The J. Rowe Jordan Schug Sextet, Battle Elf, and maintains a duo with clarinetist Gleb Kanasevich. Whether anchoring the “Free Music Friday” series at Hello Records or performing at Trinosophes and Edgefest, Hurley’s playing remains committed to the “deep listening” tradition, prioritizing the risks and rewards of immediate, unscripted composition.