Solo Piano Series: Kaja Draksler

Ireland first encountered the young Slovenian pianist/composer Kaja Draksler when she performed a stunning set with her ‘Acropolis Quintet’ at the 12 Points festival in May 2011.
She was subsequently chosen as one of three young European acts supported at festivals and venues
throughout Europe as part of the 12 Points PLUS programme.
Still only 26 years old, Kaja is a exceptional talent, presenting both remarkable classical composition as well as energetic and risky improvisation. Highly respected in the Amsterdam jazz and improvised music scene, last year she released her solo album The Lives Of Many Others, on the renowned label Clean Feed.
Draksler studied jazz piano in Ljubljana and Groningen and in 2009 won the prestigious Deloitte Jazz Award. In New York she studied privately with great musical innovators, Vijay Iyer and Jason Moran. In 2013, she completed a classical composition Masters studies at The Conservatory of Amsterdam.
Kaja Draksler's current projects include Solo, several Duets; with Onno Govaert (Feecho), Matiss!
Čudars, and Susana Santos Silvam, and Trio- BadBooshBand.
Apart from writing for her own ensembles, Draksler has been commissioned to write for Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, EMJO, Big Band RTV Slovenia, Italian Instabile Orchestra, amongst others.
A great opportunity to catch this magnetic young musician as part of Improvised Music Company’s Solo Piano Series this Spring at the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin 1

‘An impressive patchwork of classical and folk-infused miniatures, alternating with Cecil Tayloresque
percussive accelerations, competing left hand/right hand lines, and beautifully creative inside the piano passages, finishing with Thelonious Monk-like improvisation and a brief Bach encore’ - All About Jazz