It is always a refreshing change of pace when I get offered to write for someone, albeit a highly acclaimed artist in their own regard, who is not primarily working in the music business. This spring, I received an opportunity to work with a world acclaimed modern visual artist and a sculptor, Eva Petrič. Eva is a multiple award winning artist best known for her installations featuring traditional Slovenian material, most notably lace , which is most common for region of Idrija and is also a national symbol of Slovenia. Moreover, Eva is a highly talented vocalist and and due to her deep artistic personality a musician with a clear and interesting vision, her style could be best associated with Björk or Radiohead. Only for her, I’ve written unique 9 new songs that are completely through composed and quite complex in their compositional nature. We are planning to go in the studio in September or October this year and as much as Eva does, I am also looking forward to presenting this music to the world.
Read MoreLike many summers before, I have once again decided to spend the majority of August in my homeland, Slovenia. Contrary to the popular belief, this time won’t be entirely devoted to vacationing and relaxing as I will do quite some playing, composing and organizing projects that will take place in Europe in upcoming year 2019. I look forward to reunite and play with some of my closest friends from back home and also do couple of shows with my “The New Standards Trio”. Hope to see you on one of these dates:
August 2: with Jan Kus quartet featuring Marko Churnchetz & Dan Martinez @ Stari Trg, Ljubljana
August 3: with Jan Kus quartet featuring Marko Churnchetz & Dan Martinez @ Hostel Celica, Ljubljana
August 4: Žan Tetičkovič / Jean John Trio featuring Marko Churnchetz & Myles Sloniker @ Ptuj Jazz Weekend, Ptuj, Slovenia
August 6: with Jan Kus quartet featuring Marko Churnchetz & Dan Martinez @ Čin Čin, Ljubljana
August 7: with Tonč Feinig and Robert Jukič @ international vocal workshop, Tainach, Austria
August 9: with Tonč Feinig and Robert Jukič @ international vocal workshop, Tainach, Austria
August 13: Žan Tetičkovič / Jean John Trio featuring Marko Churnchetz & Myles Sloniker @ Jazzinty international festival, Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
It has been almost exactly 2 years since we recorded the initial The Port of Life 2 at the Radio and Television of Slovenia’s majestic studio 26. For a while now, I have been spreading rumors that the drive for continuing this project came back to me in full force, partially due to on going journey in immigration and acculturation (I’ve been experiencing the new and old sensations in a completely new way), partially due to new musical ideas and fresh point of view towards old material; points of inspiration that have been coming to surface basically in every compositional process I have conquered in the past year and a half. With that being said, I am extremely thrilled to announce that the negotiations and plans for a new album The Port of Life II. - “Enso” have reached the verdict and that almost exactly the same team of people will be going into the same studio 26 on February 25 2019 to record a bigger, better and stronger musical statement devoted to my psychological journey of immigration and acculturation. Promo video is coming out soon, stay tuned for more details!
I am very happy to announce that upon receiving the invitation from international workshop Creative Jazz Clinic Velenje’s director Jure Pukl, I will be returning to participate as a lecturer and mentor on the 2019 edition of the same annual festival. Teaching in 2018 was amazing and I am super honored to further share and inspire students about the complexity and depth of the incredible world of counterpoint. As a special addition, I will be holding also a class in harmony, which in nutshell completes my mission as it will allow me to share the deepest insights (and an upcoming book) from my studies under a name “Tension and Texture”. Contrary to a 2-day session last year, in 2019, I will spend the entire week lecturing and teaching, so there will be plenty of opportunities for us to further explore this beautiful world of counterpoint.
Read MoreWell I must say, I have never done it this way! It took five months of rehearsing and preparation, but I am beyond happy to say that I have just finished laying down 12 tracks for a new record by a rock trio that I am part of (My Darling Light) in little more than 10 studio hours at the legendary Cove City Sound Studios. I took a different approach towards everything, as during the process I was writing down the exact grooves, fills and other details that corresponded to every song, all of which resulted in completely written out parts. Despite the obvious doubt regarding the spontaneity and the inspiration of the moment, when we arrived to studio, it took mostly one take of each song or in some cases two and everything was just right, which proved the process oh so worthy.
Read MoreOne of the longest and by far the most challenging project that I have ever attempted on my instrument, drum-set has finally reached a peak. Attempting to completely nail the computer programmed track “Beep Street” (Squarepusher, Hard Normal Daddy, 1997) was anything but easy. Two weeks of transcribing, 11 months of practicing, 6967 notes, 14 sounds, 8 instruments and 4 at intense drum’n bass (drill and bass if you will) speed at 160 beats per minute … all in just 7 minutes and recorded in two takes. The level of details that I have attempted to execute is beyond what is possible for a human body to comprehend, hence it was a big challenge to pull it off. I recorded the video in beautiful and typical Bushwick loft in Brooklyn and now it’s finally available for public and will be premiered by the Roland company! I sincerely hope you enjoy!
Read MoreWell, this is a dream come true. I have never imagined that I would be able to say that I am now working with the one and only, the living legend and a master jazz drummer and composer (an understatement that is), Mr. Jack DeJohnette. Upon joining the publishing company based in Harlem New York (1630 Music), I was offered to work with Jack on immediate basis. In detail, I will be working on compiling, re-copying and re-organizing his entire collection which will be then released in a form of a book . To say that I am thrilled is not enough, as I look forward to getting deep inside into his world both as a composer and drummer and learn from every sentence we will exchange. Carpe Diem!
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