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.

 

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, Chris BYARS, 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.

​

​