Asadali (Ali) Pyarali Bandeali
Asadali is a DC-based percussionist whose sound blends orchestral precision, Middle Eastern dynamism, and South Indian complexity. Rooted in Islamic aesthetic practices and driven by exploration, he brings a range of musical traditions into conversation. His lifelong work-in-progress is to serve artists by playing music in ways that invite moments of contemplation and wonder.
His performance credits include appearances at the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Hall, and New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. He has performed with Zade Dirani, Mazdak Alipour, Silkroad Ensemble’s Global Musician Workshop, Washington Revels (featured artist), Charlottesville Symphony, the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and Hiraeth Project, and he leads Parda Ensemble. A three-time Texas All-State musician and former touring member of the World Champion Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, Asadali is an endorsed artist of Schlagwerk.
His career has taken him to live in Turkey, France, Ghana, Pakistan, and South Africa, where the sounds of these places shaped his voice. He has also scored music for short films, including Conference of the Moths, which has screened at international film festivals. Outside of music, Asadali enjoys exploring political economy through his policy work at the Federal Reserve Board. He holds an MBA from Yale University and is represented by T·H·E Artist Agency for modeling work.