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:
End of August, my new group matter 100 met for the first time in Trboje, Slovenia, to rehearse music commissioned by the Bimhuis. The premiere will be in Amsterdam on November 3rd, November 4th we play Berlin Jazz Fest. Here’s a video from our rehearsals.
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.
Fundacija Słuchaj released a trio album with Ab Baars, Terrie Ex and myself. You can listen to it here.
Die Zeit did a very generous portrait on me, available (in German) here.
My new solo album In Otherness Oneself is out on Unsounds!
A part of the concert we did with Marcin Masecki at Koln's Loft (playing J.S.Bach) is now available to watch online here.
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.
.
RECENT VIDEOS:
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
Czajka & Puchacz at A4, Bratislava, interview & concert
Punkt.Vrt.Plastik FRAUSTADT
Kiebitz & Uhu ENTSCHULDIGUNG
Kaja Draksler & Irena Tomažin for Glasbeni cikel JUTRI
.
If you would like to receive my newsletter, send an email entitled "Newsletter" to kaja@kajadraksler.com. Thank you!
| Oct 5 | Draksler/Santos Silva in Padova | Padua Province of Padua, Italy |
| Oct 6 | Draksler/Santos Silva in Milano | Milan Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy |
| Oct 7 | Draksler/Santos Silva in Geneve | AMR Rue des Alpes 10, 1201 Genève, Switzerland |
| Oct 8 | Draksler/Santos Silva in Luzern | Mullbau Lindenstrasse 32A, 6015 Luzern, Switzerland |
| Oct 9 | Draksler/Santos Silva in Ulm | Ulm Germany |
| Oct 12 | Czajka & Puchacz at Jazz Goes to Town | Hradec Kralove Czechia |
| Oct 14 | Solo at Jazz Goes to Town | Hradec Kralove Czechia |
| Nov 3 | matter100 at Bimhuis- world premiere | BIMHUIS Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Nov 4 | matter100 at Berlin Jazz Festival | Berliner Festspiele Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin, Germany |
| Nov 25 | Hearth in Ausland | Ausland Lychener Str. 60, 10437 Berlin, Germany |
| Dec 7 | KM28 curatorship: Punkt.Vrt.Plastik/Pimpono SOLO | KM28 Karl-Marx-Straße 28, 12043 Berlin, Germany |
| Dec 14 | KM28 curatorship: Masecki/ Draksler+Delius | KM28 Karl-Marx-Straße 28, 12043 Berlin, Germany |
| Dec 16 | Punkt.Vrt.Plastik in Hamburg | Hamburg 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
