Hadrien Feraud

Biography

Hadrien Feraud was born on August 16, 1984 in Paris. In his family music always played a very great role. His parents, who are also musicians, immersed him at a very young age in various musical environments: rock 'n roll, blues, funk, R&B, new wave, and, of course, jazz. Hadrien began studying guitar at age 8, taking lessons from his father. He also had a deep interest in film scores. By the time he was 10 he started picking up bass lines from Earth, Wind & Fire, music of the Motown era, The Police, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, Chic, Donald Fagen, ZZ Top, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, Kool and the Gang, Don Blackman and later also Weather Report, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin and Herbie Hancock. But at first he was actually more interested in playing drums until he received a copy of The Birthday Concert by Jaco Pastorius at age 12. After hearing Jaco Pastorius everything changed. Hadrien immersed himself in profound studies of electric bass, analyzing the techniques of Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, Bernard Edwards, Nathan East, Christian McBride, Victor Bailey, Anthony Jackson, Skúli Sverrisson, Gary Willis, Matthew Garrison, Richard Bona, Linley Marthe and Jeff Berlin. Hadrien's talent on bass has become widely known throughout the world.

Collaborations

Between 2003 and now, he has recorded and performed with many renowned musicians: John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Bireli Lagrene, Dean Brown, Jada Pinkett Smith, Paco Sery, Rosario Giuliani, Matthew Garrison, Marcus Gilmore, Damien Schmitt, Gergo Borlai, Nelson Veras, Antonio Farao, Bob Francescini, Otmaro Ruiz, Scott Kinsey, Marvin Smitty Smith, Ronald Bruner Jr., Thundercat, Shafiq Husayin, Chris Coleman, Eddie Brown, Ruslan Sirota, David Binney, Louis Cole, Walter Smith 3, Justin Brown, Gerald Clayton, Louis Cato, The West Coast Get Down, Virgil Donati, Janysette McPherson, Cheik Tidiane Seck, Mokhtar Samba, Dario Chiazzolino, Nguyen Lee, Jean Pierre Como, Jean Marie Ecay, Antoine Herve, Stephane Guillaume, Karim Ziad, Rido Bayonne, Rodrigo Pahlen, Dominique DiPiazza, Christophe Raymond, Tony Raymond, Gary Husband, Flavio Boltro, Andre Cecarelli, Lee Ritenour and many others.

Work

Towards the end of 2004 Hadrien started composing works for his first solo project, in parallel to playing at several clubs and jams in the Paris scene.

In 2005 John McLaughlin invited Hadrien to contribute on two tracks ("For Jaco", "Senor CS") on his album "Industrial Zen". This was a pivotal encounter for Hadrien.

In 2006 he finished recording his first solo album "Hadrien Feraud" with a huge number of prestigious guests: John McLaughlin, Bireli Lagrene, Flavio Boltro, Jean-Marie Ecay, Jean-Pierre Como, Marc Berthoumieux, Mokhtar Samba, Jim Grancamp, Jon Grancamp, Dominique di Piazza, Thierry Eliez, Linley Marthe

In 2007 he took part in Chick Corea's trio project. After that he went on tour in North America and Canada. A European tour followed in 2009, as a member of John McLaughlin and the 4th dimension (with Gary Husband on keys and Mark Mondesir on drums).

Hadrien Feraud arranged and produced Bireli Lagrene's album "New Electric Band".

On Tour

2012 and 2013 touring in US and Europe with Dean Brown Band.

2013 touring with Chick Corea & The Vigil: Chick Corea (keys), Hadrien Feraud (bass) together with Marcus Gilmore on drums (carrying on the lineage of jazz from his grandfather Roy Haynes, saxes, flute, bass clarinet and innovation from Tim Garland and guitarist Charles Altura.

Quotes

"Of course... Jaco influenced me. It is the reason why I wanted to become a musician!!" - Hadrien Feraud

"When I heard Jaco and Weather Report the first time, I fell in love. What I love in Jaco’s music are the feelings and images it creates in your mind" Hadrien Feraud

"...for me, he’s the new Jaco [Pastorius]" - John McLaughlin

"Usually I do what everybody does; each time I hear something that is attractive to my ears, I pick it up when I can." - Hadrien Feraud

Basses and amps

In September 2009, Hadrien and Ken Smith announced the creation of the "Hadrien Feraud Signature Burner", to be made in Japan by Hajime Hirose and SleekElite, under the direction of Ken Smith. Hand built models are scheduled to be released before the end of 2009, with mass-produced simplified models (no exotic tops or woods) to be released in early 2010. Early photographs show the bass with a buckeye burl top, maple neck, ebony fretboard and removable ebony ramp, and it will also featured the Ken Smith 18v preamp, with a Mid Switch for different tones and volume boost.

Awards

Discography

CD Reviews