I was born in a small village in Slovenia and grew up in the countryside. My father was a train driver, my mother is an accountant. I have a younger brother who became an engineer.
At the age of 18 I moved to The Netherlands for music, the idea won over my plans to study Latin and old Greek. A few years later, I was immersed into the rich world of Amsterdam’s improvised music scene, which complemented my studies of classical composition in a great way. After 13 years in Holland, I moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, stayed there for 5 years, and recently moved back to Trboje, my home village.
Welcome to my website.
for bio and cv please scroll down
News:
Getting ready for the grand residency of my Octet in Slovenia. Rehearsals, 5 concerts and 2 days of recording at the National Radio! More info down at the agenda.
I am honored to be part of a compilation album called GAZA, a charity release for Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund. Please support if you can.
Czajka & Puchacz was featured on Kamizdat compilation album Access Frame: Authority on the occasion of Netlabel Day. The audio release is digital and it includes an offset printed zine with liner notes by Nina Dragičević.
Here is a video of the premiere of matter 100 at the Bimhuis!
I was nominated for German Jazz Prize, category Piano/International.
The second album of my duo with the brilliant Portuguese trumpeter Susana Santos Silva is out on Intakt Records and is called GROW.
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On Innovation and the Future of Music (and art), a collection of interviews is out digitally and in printed, 200 copies limited edition. The zine features drawings by Szymon Gąsiorek and is designed by Maga Ćwieluch.
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RECENT VIDEOS:
Premiere of matter 100: at the Bimhuis
matter 100 in rehearsal: True/False
Kaja Draksler Solo: Zagreb Biennale
Anja Zag Golob, Irena Z. Tomažin, Kaja Draksler: Rojišče #73
Draksler/Bach/Masecki: Goldberg Variations
Kaja Draksler Octet: In Time, music on the words of Matsuo Basho
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If you would like to receive my newsletter, send an email entitled "Newsletter" to kaja@kajadraksler.com. Thank you!
| May 14 | Czajka & Puchacz @ Taktišče | Podhod Ajdovščina 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| May 28 | Punkt.Vrt.Plastik at Loft | Loft Wißmannstraße 30, 50823 Köln, Germany |
| May 31 | with Ada Rave and Sun Mi at Splendor | Splendor Amsterdam Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 116, 1011 LX Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Jun 3 | with Ab Baars, Michael Moore and Onno Govaert at ImproCafe/playing Misha | Association Hall 100 De Wittenstraat 100, 1052 BA Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Jun 18 | Variacije na Goldberga na festivalu Spider | Plečnikov avditorij Pod turnom 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| Jul 4 | Solo specijal na Ciklu 10° | Rudnik Sitarjevec Sitarjevška cesta 46, 1270 Litija, Slovenia |
| Jul 15 | matter 100 at IJP Lodz | Wytwórnia Łąkowa 29, 90-554 Łódź, Poland |
| Jul 16 | Draksler/Bach/Masecki at IJP Lodz | Wytwórnia Łąkowa 29, 90-554 Łódź, Poland |
| Aug 27 | with Samo Kutin and PARL at Neforma | Španski borci Zaloška cesta 61, 1110 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| Sep 27 | Petter Eldh's Kammar Koma | Frauenfeld Switzerland |
| Oct 12 | To Pianos at Exploratorium | exploratorium berlin Zossener Str. 24, 10961 Berlin, Germany |
| Nov 4 | matter 100 at Jazz Fabriek | Rüsselsheim 65428 Rüsselsheim, Germany |
“Draksler is one of the most potent musical minds of our time.“
Quietus
“The young Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler shows off a wealth of sturdy ideas and nonchalant technique on this stunning solo recording.”
Downbeat
“/.../ the young Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler pulls together information from a century of experimental music and jazz. She also makes rhythm a priority, and reminds you subtly that she knows what she’s doing. /.../ It’s hard, or maybe impossible, to predict where she’s going to take you. That’s not so common from a young musician.”
New York Times
“Draksler brings austerity, subtlety and poignancy with her fluid piano playing and rings through in bright, rich textures.”
Irish Times
