Patrick Rondat
Patrick Rondat is a French guitarist.[1] He plays instrumental heavy metal associated with diverse influences such as new-age music, progressive metal, classical music and jazz. He appears in some shows by Jean Michel Jarre.
Biography
He has played with Elegy, Consortium Project, Red Circuit, G3 with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and Jean Michel Jarre. He is also featured on the song "Rainmaker" on Vanden Plas's Spirit of Live album. He participated in the compilation "Rock Hard appointment" (Vogue, 1989), which made him known to a wider audience, and began a French tour with Blue Oyster Cult. The release of the debut solo album "Just For Fun" confirms his position as a leader of French instrumental metal.
He began touring with "Rape of the Earth" (Vogue / Music For Nation 1991). His first two albums were distributed internationally, and he was involved in the famous live show BBC Radio 1 in London. Although still relying on technical prowess, each album presented an evolution with more mature and accomplished compostions. Alongside his solo career, Patrick has worked with other artists. The meeting with Jarre in 1991 opened new horizons in Patrick's music. After his participation in Monsters of Rock (AC/DC, Metallica, Queensrÿche etc.), he began working with Jean-Michel, recording the album Chronologie which led to participation in an impressive series of concerts around the world, including one at Wembley Stadium in 1993. This meeting also led to the recording of "Amphibia" (FDM 1996), produced by Jean-Michel, on which he is accompanied by Tommy Aldridge and Patrice Guers. This album continues the musical change in "Rape of the Earth" where the compositions of progressive influences are affirmed in an adaptation of the landmark Presto Vivaldi (Vivaldi Tribute).
Other artists crossed the path of Patrick on several occasions, including Tony Mac Alpine, Simon Phillips, Steve Lukather, Stu Hamm (Cannes music passion) and Gary Moore (BBM) for whom he was an opening act at the Zenith in Paris, then he was invited to join Joe Satriani 's's tour G3 (1998) with Michael Schenker, for 14 very memorable shows.
In 1999, he released "On the Edge" (FDM), a transition album exploring other musical worlds. Along with Patrick, Tommy Aldridge, and Patrice Guers, two other prestigious musicians were invited: Didier Lockwood and Michel Petrucciani .
During this period, he began a collaboration with English singer Ian Parry, participating in the Consortium Project. He recorded two albums and toured Europe together with Patrice Guers (who would join Rhapsody a few years later), Dirk Bruinenberg (drummer of Elegy), Stephan Lill, and Gunter Verno (Vanden Plas). After this positive experience, Patrick joined the Dutch group "Elegy" for two albums, followed by a tour around the world.
Jean-Michel Jarre then planned new gigs in which Patrick was involved: Monaco, Gdansk, Athens, Beijing (Universal DVD). It was then time for Patrick to prepare his new solo album "An ephemeral world" (2004 NTS), a concept album evoking the ephemeral nature of things. Regarded by many as his most successful album, it confirmed its qualities as a composer and outstanding instrumentalist. There was then a tour with the band Freak Kitchen, and Manu Martin joined in on keyboards to reinforce the band.
Upon the encounter with classical pianist Hervé N'Kaoua in 2008, a collaborative work started which required from Patrick, coming from the "rock" world, discipline and humility. The duo, coming from apparently conflicting cultures, offered a new perspective on sonatas for piano and violin (Fauré / Beethoven), and also pieces for orchestra (Winter A. Vivaldi). The recording of this album was followed by concerts in France and Italy in 2009, and XIII bis Records released a 5-CD box set retracing his career (Just for fun, Rape Of The Earth, An ephemeral world, Patrick Hervé N'Kaoua Rondat Live Channel unpublished 93-2005).
For over twenty years, Patrick has also been dedicated to teaching and considers it is essential to transmit and share his musical legacy. Thus he was involved in workshops and master classes in France and abroad, and has recorded an instructional DVD (virtuosity and velocity -1997). Both Harrison Ford and Hugh Grant, have mentioned him as one of their favourite music artist.
Discography
Albums
2002 || align=left|
Title | Release | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Time (with The Element) | 1985 | First release with ex-Warning singer "Raphael Garrido" and bassist "Frederic Guillemet", first TV appearance ever with "Rapha" (vocals), "Fredo Guillemet" (bass), "Manu Bensi" (drums), and "Fred Bensi" (keyboards) |
Just for fun | 1989 | re-release 2002 |
Rape of the Earth | 1991 | re-release in 1993 & 2002 |
Amphibia | 1996 | - |
Amphibia | 1997 | Japanese release with bonus live track - Ultimate Dreams |
Amphibia | 1998 | European release with 2 bonus live tracks - Burn Out, and Just For Fun |
On the Edge | 1999 | With Michel Petrucciani, Didier Lockwood, and Tommy Aldridge |
Forbidden Fruit (with Elegy) | 2000 | With Dirk Bruinenberg on drums |
An Ephemeral World | 2004 | With Dirk Bruinenberg - drums (Elegy, Adagio), Patrice Guers - bass (Rhapsody of Fire), and Manu Martin - keyboards |
Patrick Rondat & Hervé N'Kaoua | 2008 | With Hervé N'Kaoua on Piano |
Super Eurobeat 197 ~King Of Eurobeat~ | 2009 | Performed "Fire Dragon" with Dave Rodgers (Giancarlo Pasquini) on vocals |
References
- Gardon, Nicolas (10 October 2006). "Interview de Patrick Rondat" (in French). Guitariste.com. Retrieved 27 August 2011.