Iti Artist

Born in Normandy, France, Renaud Penant lived in Paris for 15 years before moving to New York City in 2000.

After studying classical percussion as well as jazz drumming in the conservatories of Bagnolet, Rueil-Malmaison and at the Kenny Clarke-Dante Agostini Drum School, he obtained a unanimous first-prize at the Seine Saint-Denis drums competition. He also attended workshops under the direction of great drummers such as Max ROACH, Clifford JARVIS and Jack DeJOHNETTE.

Performing

Renaud Penant has performed in virtually every major jazz club in Paris (New Morning, Duc des Lombards, Sunset, Petit Opportun, Manhattan Jazz Club), in various Jazz Festivals and also played in Germany and Italy.

In New York he has had long term regular engagements at Smoke Jazz Club and Smalls Jazz Club, as well as at the now famous American Legion Post 398 in Harlem.

He plays with musicians like Grant STEWART, John WEBBER, Bobby PORCELLI, Pasquale GRASSO, Steve ASH, Tad SHULL, Sacha PERRY, Zaid NASSER, John FARNSWORTH, Seleno CLARKE . . .

He has recorded with the Joe FARNSWORTH World Rhythm Octet, Janice FRIEDMAN Trio, and he has released a trio CD "I Want To Be Happy" on the ITI label in 2014.

In April 2017, he released a CD, "In The Mood For A Classic", featuring Pasquale GRASSO and Ari ROLAND, on the Gut String Records label.

Teaching

Starting in France, teaching has always been an important part of Renaud Penant's life.

He has taught regularly in three conservatories in the Paris region (Arcueil, Epinay Sous Sénart, and Chevilly) and was also a teacher at the Ecole de Musique et de Danse in Pré-St-Gervais, specialized in providing education to special needs children, since 1987 until he moved to New York City. His experience includes teaching classes and private drum lessons as well as various percussion and rhythm workshops, and he has taught all ages.

In New York, he has taught for various music programs in schools in Manhattan and The Bronx, with educational companies such as Cisum, Inc., the Multicultural Music Group, the Harlem School of the Arts and the Harlem Children's Zone, and more recently at LEAP. He also teaches private students.

Renaud Penant feels it is a responsibility and a duty, for any artist, to pass on the magic of art through teaching.

Contact this candidate