I was born in a small village in Slovenia and grew up in the countryside. My father was a train driver, my mother 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:
I made 7th place on the "Rising Star Pianist of the Year" list of Downbeat's Annual Critics Poll
The fourth album of Punkt.Vrt.Plastik, "Kompress" is coming out on Intakt Records on August 28th!
Building up a new solo repertoire, here is a song from a concert I did at Cerkno Jazz Festival.
"Bare, Unfolding" by Kaja Draksler Octet is out, available here. A video of one of the tracks was created by the incredible Aleksandra Ołdak.
Another video by Aleksandra Ołdak for Czajka & Puchacz's Transcendentalny is accompaning the duo's release of their second album Flapping, now available here.
I am honoured to be part of a compilation album called GAZA, a charity release for Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund. Please support if you can.
~ If you would like to receive my newsletter, send an email entitled "Newsletter" to kaja@kajadraksler.com. Thank you!
RECENT VIDEO & AUDIO:
audio> Kaja Solo at Cerkno Jazz Festival
video> Czajka & Puchacz at Mózg Festiwal
video> Czajka & Puchacz: Transcendentalny
video> Kaja Draksler Octet: In Kyoto
video> Kaja Draksler Octet: Skylark (live)
audio/interview> Andy Moor's Blueprints for a Blackout on Echobox Radio here
audio> Kaja Draksler Solo Organ in Hradec Kralove part 1 and part 2
video> Premiere of matter 100: at the Bimhuis
| Aug 15 | Wanja Slavin Quintet @Peitz festival | Peitz 03185 Peitz, Germany |
| Aug 21 | With John Butcher at Blow Out Festival | Oslo Norway |
| Aug 22 | With Karl Bjorå and Brandon Lopez at Blow Out Festival | Oslo Norway |
| Aug 29 | Solo at Now Music Festival | Sovicille 53018 Sovicille SI, Italy |
| Sep 12 | Solo at Bučno | Lesno Brdo Vrhnika, Slovenia |
| Oct 7 | Czajka & Puchacz at Bruitkasten Concert Series | Gemeinde Köln Ebertpl. Laden 7, 50668 Köln, Germany |
| Oct 9 | Czajka & Puchacz @ SITP at Bimhuis | BIMHUIS Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Oct 31 | Open Form for Society II at Berlin Jazzfest | Berliner Festspiele Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin-Bezirk Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Germany |
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Nov 16 to: Nov 19 |
In Stavanger for Blaa:Traa | Stavanger Jazzforum Sandvigå 27, 4007 Stavanger, Norway |
“Draksler is one of the most potent musical minds of our time.“
Quietus
“Draksler’s sound seems to be tied to ancient tonalities, born of the earth, /.../ there’s a kind of gravitational stillness at the centre, that seems beyond anything that could be taught.”
Stewart Lee
“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
