80

Jazz

Format: CD

Code: 119880

EAN: 3838898119880

This year, Big Band RTV Slovenija marks its 80th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, ZKP RTV Slovenija, in collaboration with RTV Slovenia’s Music Production, is releasing a new album titled 80. The record features original compositions and arrangements written by the orchestra’s current members—each an outstanding musician devoted to their craft: Lenart Krečič, Blaž Jurjevčič, Darko Sedak-Benčić, David Jarh, Aleš Avbelj, Antonio Geček, Klemen Repe, Aleš Rendla, Primož Grašič, Adam Klemm, Primož Fleischman, and Tomaž Gajšt. Additional arrangements and compositions come from Tadej Tomšič, Lojze Krajnčan, Žigan Krajnčan, and Andreas Marinello. The album takes listeners on a journey through swing, Latin, ethnic, fusion, funk, and other styles—showcasing the band members not only as confident instrumentalists but as complete artistic personalities.

To commemorate the occasion, Big Band RTV Slovenija will hold a special anniversary concert with legendary saxophonist and Grammy nominee Chris Potter on November 28 in Linhart Hall at Cankarjev dom. Under the baton of Tadej Tomšič, the ensemble will perform selections from the classic jazz repertoire as well as some of Potter’s own compositions.

Big Band RTV Slovenija

Big Band RTV Slovenija has been performing continuously since 1945, making it one of the oldest ensembles of its kind in the world. The driving force behind its founding was Bojan Adamič (1912–1995)—a conductor and composer who had already led his own orchestra during World War II. Immediately after the liberation, on May 8, 1945, Adamič began gathering dispersed musicians and soon formed a capable orchestra that gave its first public performance on June 27, 1945, at the reopening of Postojna Cave. Initially known as the Dance Orchestra of Radio Ljubljana (PORL), the ensemble was led by Adamič—nicknamed “the master” for his cosmopolitanism and artistic breadth—until the early 1960s. Prominent soloists of this era included Ati Soss, Dušan Veble, Mojmir Sepe, Zoran Komac, Albert Podgornik, and Franci Puhar, while producers Dušan Hren and Jože Kampič (1930–2001) played key roles behind the scenes. In 1961, the young and exceptionally talented Jože Privšek (1937–1998) took up the conductor’s baton. A skilled pianist and vibraphonist, Privšek’s greatest strengths lay in composition, arranging, and orchestral leadership. Under his direction, the Dance Orchestra of Radio Ljubljana reached the highest artistic level, dominating the jazz scene across former Yugoslavia and earning respect abroad. Privšek knew his musicians intimately and wrote over 4,000 arrangements, tailor-made to showcase their strengths. This allowed soloists such as Petar Ugrin, Andrej Arnol, Tone Janša, Silvester Stingl, Ratko Divjak, Ladislav Rebrek, and Milan Ferlež to shine, while Pavel Grašič served reliably as the lead trumpeter until his retirement. During this period, the orchestra was renamed Big Band RTV Ljubljana, and after Slovenia’s independence, Big Band RTV Slovenija.

Producers during this time included Jože Kampič (a renowned accordionist) and composer Janez Gregorc (1934–2012). After Privšek’s retirement in 1992, Lojze Krajnčan became the chief conductor, joined occasionally by Petar Ugrin, Milko Lazar, Emil Spruk, and others. The orchestra was rejuvenated during this era, with standout soloists such as Primož Grašič, Tadej Tomšič, Dominik Krajnčan, David Jarh, Blaž Jurjevčič, Matjaž Mikuletič, Aleš Avbelj, Aleš Suša, Blaž Trček, Primož Fleischman, and Aleš Rendla. From 2002 to 2012, the band was artistically and organizationally led by Hugo Šekoranja, a longtime saxophonist of the orchestra, with Tadej Tomšič and Lojze Krajnčan as primary conductors. During this period, the Big Band collaborated with many renowned international conductors and soloists, including Peter Herbolzheimer, Mercer Ellington, Maria Schneider, Carla Bley, Bob Mintzer, Paquito D’Rivera, Chris Minh Doky, Mike Stern, Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling, Patti Austin, and many others—cementing its international reputation. Later, the band operated under a collective artistic leadership, with members Aleš Avbelj, Adam Klemm, Tomaž Gajšt, Aleš Suša, Lenart Krečič, and Patrik Greblo serving on the artistic council. At the end of 2024, Matjaž Mikuletič, a longtime trombonist, arranger, and composer for the orchestra, became its artistic director, with Rok Lopatič as producer.