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 now live between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Trboje, Slovenia, with regular visits to Amsterdam and Berlin.
Welcome to my website.
for bio and cv please scroll down
News:
October and November are busy. Punkt.Vrt.Plastik, solo, Lillinger’s Open Form for Society, To Pianos, and more. Details are in the agenda.
We have just recorded second album with my octet at De Bijloke, Gent. The repertoire is written on poems of Robert Frost. The record will be out in March 2020 on Clean Feed Records.
Album “Swim” (Terrie Ex/ Kaja Draksler), recorded live at Cafe Oto, will be released coming February on Terp records
Also soon: the release of Czajka & Puchacz’s debut album on Slovenian label Klopotec.
Past April, Christian Lillinger's new large ensemble project Open Form For Society has been released on Lillinger’s own label, Plaist. The project will have a live debut at Donnauschingen in October 2019.
Here is recent interview with Tomaž Grom for Centralala.
| Oct 21 | With Ståle Liavik and John Butcher at FRI form | Dokkhuset Scene AS Dokkparken 4, 7042 Trondheim, Norway |
| Oct 22 | With Ståle Liavik and John Butcher at Blow Out | Kafé Hærverk Hausmanns gate 34, 0182 Oslo, Norway |
| Oct 24 | Solo | Koncertkirken Blågårds Pl. 6A, 2200 København, Denmark |
| Nov 1 | Christian Lillinger's Open Form Society at Berlin Jazz Festival | Berlin Germany |
| Nov 3 | Solo at Jazz on the Sofa | Zeist Netherlands |
| Nov 9 | Solo at Novara Jazz Festival | Novara 28100 Novara, Province of Novara, Italy |
| Nov 10 | Novara Jazz Collective at Novara Jazz Festival | Novara 28100 Novara, Province of Novara, Italy |
| Nov 11 | Solo: Troika Concerten @Ouest | Ouest Rabotstraat, Ghent, Belgium |
| Nov 12 | ImproCafe at Zaal 100 | Association Hall 100 De Wittenstraat 100, 1052 BA Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Nov 13 | Solo at Free Essen Festival | Alte Mitte Viehofer Pl. 20, 45127 Essen, Germany |
| Nov 25 | at 5e Mandagsklubben, details TBA | Copenhagen Denmark |
| Nov 27 | Solo at Unerhoert Festival | Zürich Switzerland |
| Jan 18 | Solo at the Bimhuis | Bimhuis Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Jan 21 | with Martin Kuchen at Club Primi | H15 Cafeteria & Bar Halmtorvet 15, 1700 København, Denmark |
| Feb 10 | To Pianos at MetJazz | Prato 59100 Prato, Province of Prato, Italy |
| Feb 13 | Feecho at Vinterjazz | Koncertkirken Blågårds Pl. 6A, 2200 København, Denmark |
| Feb 25 | With Terrie Ex at Club Primi (CPH Jazz Festival) | H15 Cafeteria & Bar Halmtorvet 15, 1700 København, Denmark |
“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
