Percussion master, composer, arranger, producer, and improviser, John Hadfield is internationally acclaimed for his stunning performances in a verity of fields, such as contemporary music, jazz, rock, world music, electronic music, and world music. Praised by the public and the press for his virtuosity and his extraordinary charisma, he has also received numerous awards and distinctions in the past few years, all over the world.

One of the rare percussionists to conduct several musical careers at the same time, John Hadfield performs regularly with prestigious classical artists, such as Yo Yo Ma and Daniel Hope, with contemporary music ensembles such Bang on a Can and The World Percussion Ensemble, with jazz artists and groups, such as Kenny Werner, Bobby Watson and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, as well as with world music artists, such as David Krakauer and Kinan Azmeh.

John Hadfield has participated in more than one hundred albums and soundtracks, in a variety of musical genres and styles, from contemporary pieces and all the way to original film music. Recently, he was invited to perform on the soundtrack of the American movie « Joker », which has been awarded many international prizes, and several Oscars.  

John Hadfield has recently released two albums with his own compositions, The Eye of Gordon and Displaced. In these fascinating experimental projects, he explores numerous innovative and unusual techniques, and performs on more than twenty different percussion instruments. He has also composed the music for several choreographic projects, commissioned by several renowned international dance companies.

In addition to his career as an instrumentalist, composer and improviser, John Hadfield is also passionate about education, outreach, and about teaching a new generation of percussionists.  He is professor of percussion and jazz at the New York University, at the New School, and he regularly gives masterclasses all over the world.