Hadrien Feraud
Encyclopedia
Hadrien Feraud is a French Jazz fusion
-bassist
.
Feraud was originally more interested in playing the drums. Only after listening to the CD "The Birthday Concert" by Jaco Pastorius
, a present from his dad at the age of 12, did he apply himself to studying the electric bass on his own. Deeply fascinated and motivated by Jaco's entire musical output, he became one of the youngest bass virtuosos to come out of France in 10 years.
He expanded his musical universe by occasional collaborations and listening/studying the tunes of many other bassists and musicians such as: Christian McBride
, Victor Bailey, Anthony Jackson, Skúli Sverrisson
, Gary Willis
, Matthew Garrison, Richard Bona
and Linley Marthe. Both, the complete musical work of Jaco Pastorius and the band Weather Report
with Pastorius on bass has been and is still his main source of inspiration.
Christian Pegand (John McLaughlin's and Bireli Lagrene's concert manager) invited Feraud in 2001 to play at the concert "bass contre bass". Surrounded by Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc on guitars and Franck Agulhon on drums, he had a noticeable impact. Lagrene recognised Feraud's enormous talent.
In 2002 via Bireli Lagrene Feraud became acquainted with Jim and Jon Grancamp from Strasbourg
. Jim Grancamp (guitars), Jon Grancamp (drums) and Feraud on bass formed a power-trio called "Le Cartel". They performed on various stages in the French capital, around France and abroad.
Eager to meet more people, he participated in several contests, such as "Euro Bass Day 2003" in Verona where he shone through as the winner. He emerged also in the French contest "Haut les basses" in 2004.
In 2005 John McLaughlin
invited Feraud 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 5trio project. After that he went on tour in North America and Canada. A European tour followed in 2008, as a member of John McLaughlin and the 4th dimension (with Gary Husband on keys and Mark Mondesir on drums).
Playing on, arranging and producing Bireli Lagrene's new electric band album follows.
"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
In September 2009, Hadrien Feraud 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.
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
-bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
.
Biography
Feraud was born into a family of musicians. His first guitar lessons were from his father when he was eight years old.Feraud was originally more interested in playing the drums. Only after listening to the CD "The Birthday Concert" by Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
, a present from his dad at the age of 12, did he apply himself to studying the electric bass on his own. Deeply fascinated and motivated by Jaco's entire musical output, he became one of the youngest bass virtuosos to come out of France in 10 years.
He expanded his musical universe by occasional collaborations and listening/studying the tunes of many other bassists and musicians such as: Christian McBride
Christian McBride
Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist. His father, Lee Smith, and his great uncle, Howard Cooper, are well known Philadelphia bassists who served as McBride's early mentors...
, Victor Bailey, Anthony Jackson, Skúli Sverrisson
Skúli Sverrisson
Skúli Sverrisson is an Icelandic composer and bassist residing in New York City.Over the past two decades, bass guitarist-composer Skuli Sverrisson has worked with a veritable who’s who of the experimental world, from free jazz legends to music icons Skúli Sverrisson (born 23 October 1966) is an...
, Gary Willis
Gary Willis
Gary Willis is an American bassist and composer known foremost as the co-founder of the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter, Dennis Chambers, and Allan Holdsworth...
, Matthew Garrison, Richard Bona
Richard Bona
Richard Bona is a jazz bassist and musician. His real African name, as he said live in Montreal in a show with Bobby McFerrin, is Bona Pinder Yayumayalolo...
and Linley Marthe. Both, the complete musical work of Jaco Pastorius and the band Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
with Pastorius on bass has been and is still his main source of inspiration.
Christian Pegand (John McLaughlin's and Bireli Lagrene's concert manager) invited Feraud in 2001 to play at the concert "bass contre bass". Surrounded by Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc on guitars and Franck Agulhon on drums, he had a noticeable impact. Lagrene recognised Feraud's enormous talent.
In 2002 via Bireli Lagrene Feraud became acquainted with Jim and Jon Grancamp from Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Jim Grancamp (guitars), Jon Grancamp (drums) and Feraud on bass formed a power-trio called "Le Cartel". They performed on various stages in the French capital, around France and abroad.
Eager to meet more people, he participated in several contests, such as "Euro Bass Day 2003" in Verona where he shone through as the winner. He emerged also in the French contest "Haut les basses" in 2004.
Work
Towards the end of 2004 Feraud 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
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
invited Feraud to contribute on two tracks ("For Jaco", "Senor CS") on his album "Industrial Zen
Industrial Zen
Industrial Zen is an album by John McLaughlin, released in 2006 through the record label C&B Media. The album reached number nine on Billboards Top Jazz Albums chart....
".
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
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
's 5trio project. After that he went on tour in North America and Canada. A European tour followed in 2008, as a member of John McLaughlin and the 4th dimension (with Gary Husband on keys and Mark Mondesir on drums).
Playing on, arranging and producing Bireli Lagrene's new electric band album follows.
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
- Burner 5 Strings "Ken Smith"
- FODERA Beez Elite 5 (special manufacture)
- F BASS Fretless 5 strings
- GODIN 5 Acc Fretless with Axon Midi system
- GT5 vintage KEN SMITH Master built
- Mike CURRY special
In September 2009, Hadrien Feraud 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.
- MARKBASS System AMP
- Clubs : CMD102P + TRAVELER 102P
- Bigger than Club : F1 or SD800 on 2 cabinets 104HR Standard ( 8 X 10' )
Awards
- Down BeatDown BeatDown Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
Critics Poll "Rising Star Electric Bassist of the year" 2008 - Down BeatDown BeatDown Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
Critics Poll 2nd position in "Rising Star Electric Bass" 2009 - Bass Player Magazin "Readers Choice Award" Most Exciting new Player 2009
Discography
- Industrial Zen / John McLaughlin 2006
- Hadrien Feraud / Hadrien Feraud 2007
- Brooklyn, Paris to Clearwater / Chick Corea 2007
- Official Pirate / John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension 2007
- Floating Point / John McLaughlin 2008
- Bireli Electric Side / Bireli Lagrene 2008
CD Reviews
External links
- Official Website (English/French)
- Hadrien Feraud on Myspace (English)
- Fansite (English)
- Announcement of Ken Smith Signature Burner model (with pictures) on Talkbass
- Discussion With Hadrien Feraud