Arthur Hnatek was born on the 10th of July 1990 in Geneva, Switzerland. Surrounded by his parents who owns a music shop, Arthur was confronted quickly to this art. After trying a lot of instruments, Arthur began playing drums at age 8. In 2005, he graduates from the local jazz school studying with Raul Esmerode during 7 years, obtaining the diploma of best student of the state city consul. Since then, Arthur began playing heavily around his home town as well as studying in the professional jazz school at the same time as high school. His playing brought him to play in severals big bands but also in small jazz ensembles throughout the country__________________________________________________
He’s travelled a bit thanks to his music; playing in France, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Germany and the United States. His music brought him to meetings among a lot of great drummers such as Dave Weckl, John JR. Robinson, Rick Marotta, Tom Brechtlein, Ian Froman, Kim Plainfield, Ignacio Berroa, Nathaniel Townsley, Frank Katz, Marko Djordevic, Dan Weiss, Tommy Aldridge, Akira Jimbo, Wolfgang Haffner, Jojo Mayer and John Blackwell and people like Bob Quaranta, Sheryl Bailey, Moncef Genoud, George Robert, Ohad Talmor.__________________________________________________________
He studies piano, bass, jazz theory and classical music with his college philharmonic orchestra. His drum lessons are taken in Lausanne’s EJMA, jazz school, with Marcel Papaux.One of the highlights of Arthur’s career was him getting chosen to form, with 7 others international musicians, the JM Jazz World. Theses 8 musicians coming from all around the world (aged under 25) were invited to perform as soloist with the big band “HGM Jazz Orkestar” in Zagreb, Croatia. Performing in Croatia and in Wienna, Austria, the big band played live on the major Croatian radio and in famous clubs.
Arthur met incredible young musician and made friends all around the world. He was also invited by YAMAHA Drums to perform at the Groove All-Stars in Frankfurt, Germany where he played with Neil Stubenhaus, David Spinozza, Ross Bolton and the whole All-Star band.______________________________________
Prizes won
++++++ • 2006 best swiss drummer all category (age 6 to 25) at Altishofen, LUZERN. Arthur won first place in front of 170 drummers. This prize made people interested in Arthur and a lot of newspapers, a local radio station talked about him and the championship.
++++++ • Arthur won a contest in the “Batteur Magazine” (Drummer magazine) for the best song recording.
++++++ • 2007 : best swiss drummer at Atishofen, where he won a scholarship to spend 10 weeks in the "Drummer's Collective", in New York
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Today he is one of the most forthcoming jazz drummers of Geneva and Switzerland. He receives more and more invitations to perform with great musicians or in solo. He was invited to play a drum solo in the Stravinsky Auditorium (Montreux jazz festival scene) for a gala concert. He participated in a festival playing just before Erik Truffaz’s band or he played with Ian Massera’s (Elvis Presley impersonator) orchestra._______________________________________
Today, he plays in several professional big bands, including the Geneva Conservatory Big Band or the George Robert Jazz Orchestra as well as smaller jazz settings, like the “Slide Quartet”, where he also composes or Goodness Gracious.. He plays in a band called “Tout va Bien”, where the music is rock-pop oriented or with Pandorga, a brazilian jazz band . He’s more and more demanded to work also like a session drummer; he recorded servals albums for shows or bands._______________
Arthur has a lot projects in front of him. He’ll play with all his present bands but also with his own one: he did last summer a “YellowJackest Tribute” or with his own compositions for big and small ensembles. His future will be more and more completed by outstanding shows!_______________________________________________
Arthur Hnatek endorses Yamaha Drums, Meinl Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks.
photos par Sébastien Müller
Hello Arthur, Merci pour l'ajout ! C'est un plaisir de t'avoir rencontré... ici à NYC ! J'espère que l'on aura l'occasion de se voir en Suisse ! A tout bientôt et félicitations pour tout ce que tu as réussi ! C'est la grande classe ! Bises Sylvie
Hey buddy! GREAT having you around school and thanks for finding me on MySpace! You're right - you didn't forget!! HAHAH!!! I hope everything is going well with your studies and you are enjoying yourself at The Drummers Collective. It's been a pleasure having you around. See you at school!!!
hei arthur great drumming! didn't know that there are such young talents in switzerland, you played already a lot with your band, respect! i am doing a school for young drummers that haven't the money to pay a personal teacher, maybe you can take a look at it when you have the time.. i'll tell you as soon the school is finished... greetings from zurich christoph aka swizzdrummer
hey Arthur! thanks for the request! You did a fantastic job when we performed together at the Yamaha Groove All Stars in Frankfurt! Keep it up, stay in touch and have fun at the Collective in NY! -Erik:)
Bon, tu ne me connais pas.. En fait, c'est Sébastien qui m'a un jour parlé de ton groupe et du clip "She". J'ai donc été voir et j'ai adoré. J'ai cherché sur Internet pour avoir plus d'infos et je suis tombée ici. Bref, tout ça pour dire que j'aime beaucoup ta musique.
Voilà, j'espère pouvoir te voir prochainement sur scène!
Merci bcp pour la connex! T'ai vu aux Bastions l'an passé avec Tout Va Bien: tu joues comme un dieu..! (g encore une photo de ce concert fait par Solari B. Pics, si ça t'intéresse...)
Salut arthur !! Alors je ne sais pas si tu te souviens de moi, je suis Romain, on était ensemble a l'atelier jeune de l'AMR avec stéphane metraux. J'étais un des deux sax alto. Tu te souviens ? Je suis tomber un peu par hasard sur ton myspace, ça me ferait plaisir d'avoir de tes nouvelles.
Ciao Arthur!! Je viens de te voir alors 2 sec pour le top friends! Il me semble pas m'avoir vu dans ton top entre tout ces jazzman'! Mais toi t'y seras entre tout ces rockeurs alors j'espère que ca sera reciproque!!^^ Alors ce samedi, laisse moi réfelchir... non! Heu toi sinon? ca va? Tu revois les ex-yourself? T'as quoi comme projets? J'attends que tu me solicites hein!!!^^ J'ai progressé, je sais même ce que sais un Fa dièse! :) Serieux! ;) Allé à bientôt j'espère!
Hello Arthur, cool de te retrouver ici!...en attendant de prendre le temps de se retrouver pour de vrai (non, non, je n'ai pas oublié!!!)... Je vois que tu avances grave, et cela fait vraiment plaisir à voir et surtout à entendre. Surtout ne change rien, poursuis et garde le feu. LOVE. François
