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.
• 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
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 Quartetâ€, where he also composes or Goodness Gracious.. He plays in a band called “Tout va Bienâ€, 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
