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:
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.
My freshly composed piece "BA" was commissioned performed by Orchestra Jazz de Matosinhos on June 15th on Jazz na Real Vinícola in Porto, Portugal
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!
Feb 12 | Punkt.Vrt.Plastik in Handelsbeurs | Handelsbeurs Kouter 29, 9000 Gent, Belgium |
Feb 13 | Punkt. Vrt.Plastik at the Bimhuis | BIMHUIS Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Feb 14 | Punkt.Vrt.Plastik at Victoria Jazz | Victoria National Jazz Scene Karl Johans gt. 35, 0162 Oslo, Norway |
Feb 15 | Punkt.Vrt.Plastik in Tübingen | Tübingen 72 Tübingen, Germany |
Mar 27 | matter 100 at AMR Festival | AMR Rue des Alpes 10, 1201 Genève, Switzerland |
Mar 29 to: Apr 8 |
Kaja Draksler Octet Residency/Better Live Tour | Španski borci Zaloška cesta 61, 1110 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
Apr 1 | Kaja Draksler Octet at Cankarjevi torki | Cankarjev dom Prešernova cesta 10, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
Apr 3 | Kaja Draksler Octet pri Didiju | Slovenske Konjice 3210 Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia |
Apr 5 | Kaja Draksler Octet at Jazz Cerkno | Cerkno 5282 Cerkno, Slovenia |
“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