Arthur Hnatek was born July, 10th 1990 in Geneva, Switzerland. Very quickly, he was attracted by music because of his parents. After trying piano, he began playing drums at the age of 8 at the Music Conservatory of Geneva in the jazz section. Since the age of 12, he also played in the AMR, the local jazz school and jazz club. 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 and concerts among Dave Weckl, John JR. Robinson, Rick Marotta, Tom Brechtlein, Tommy Aldridge, Akira Jimbo, Wolfgang Haffner, Jojo Mayer and John Blackwell.
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. He loves Jazz but he likes also Funk, Fusion, Latin, Rock and other. He plays in a band called “Tout va Bien”, where the music is rock-pop oriented. He’s more and more demanded to work also like a session drummer; he recorded servals albums for shows or bands. He’s in a professional jazz school in Geneva and benefits of a special schedule for his studies because, next to music, he also carries on with high school. 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 many more.
Prizes won:
- Geneva’s jazz theory diploma
- Geneva’s best music certificate given by the cities state consul.
- 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. He'll be in the US next summer.
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.
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!
check out : http://www.myspace.com/arthurhnatek
In March 2008 Arthur was invited to play the Yamaha Groove Night at the Musikmesse Frankfurt - great performance.
