Piano player and composer Kaja Draksler began to work with her quartet in Holland in 2005. The group (George Dumitriu on guitar, Goran Krmac on tuba and Kristijan Krajncan on drums) debuted on the Big competition for the best arrangement of Prins Claus Conservatory in december 2005 and won the second prize. In 2007, the quartet began to work intesively on a program that was recorded and released in Slovenia (with two Slovenian guest musicians, Jure Pukl and Robert Jukic) in 2008 entitled Akropola.
The repertuar consists of entirely original music by Kaja Draksler (except one tune written by the drummer Kristijan). Most of the compositions were written in her high school years on the lyrics of a Slovenian poet Eva Krasevec. The quartet rearranged and recomposed the tunes a great deal. The music they play is not stylisticly restricted; one can find jazz, drum'n'bass, classical, folk grooves, blues,... probably most important and also interesting part of their music is the improvisation.
/.../ Miss Draksler proved herself as one of the most interesting young names on Slovenian jazz scene. (Mario Baletic, Radio "Student", 2.7.2008)
Probably the biggest surprise was Kaja Draksler /.../ At her constant, unbelievably easily "handled" and in from time to time even prepared piano,/.../ (Uros Smasek, Culture, Vecer, 3.7.2008)
She was excelling as soloist as well as a composer. Her music and interpretation proved to be relaxed, fresh, strong and at the same time lyrical. Together with her group she offered incredible music making/.../ (Rasto Bozic, Culture, Dolenjski list, 12.8.2008)
“According to the jury Draksler is a remarkable instrumentalist with a sound background. She inspired the rhythm section with her stimulating ideas and unusual time signatures in her original compositions and arrangements of Chopin and Monk.”
(Deloitte Jazz Award Home Page)
Kaja Draksler Acropolis feat. Sanem Kalfa are:
Kaja Draksler - piano
George Dumitriu - guitar
Goran Krmac - tuba
Kristijan Krajnčan - drums
Sanem Kalfa - vocal
Links:
www.kajadraksler.com
www.myspace.com/sanemkalfa
www.myspace.com/akropolaquartet
www.myspace.com/kajadraksler
www.myspace.com/georgedumitriu
www.myspace.com/kristijankrajncan
www.myspace.com/gorantuba
www.deloittejazzaward.nl
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