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:
The fourth album of Punkt.Vrt.Plastik, "Kompress" is coming out on Intakt Records this summer. More soon!
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
| Jul 24 | Solo at Plakaton | Plakaton Warszawskie Przejścia Podziemne pod Rondem 40-latka (przy Dworcu Centralnym lokal 58/59, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland |
| 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 | Siena 53100 Siena, Province of Siena, Italy |
| 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
“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
