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Katarchestra

katarchestra

About Me

I started with Katarchestra in 2005. During my study in Groningen (Holland) I became interested in ethno and world music with a special focus on my own tradition. I choose seven musicians from different countries of Europe (Slovenia, Italy; Sicily, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic) most of them studying both, classical and jazz and created a group of very different people with very different backgrounds, all interested in their tradition and roots. My basic idea is take a traditional melody and reshape it. I focus strongly on the melody itself to find something in it that’s particularly interesting to me (melodical motive, rhythmic pattern, obvious interval jumps, repetition, unusual form…) . Then I work on it as far as I feel. This way each arrangement is a composition by itself. One of my most important aims is to show all the complexity in simplicity and strength of traditional melodies. I use some of the tools that are specific for folk music such as repetition, human voice, strong rhythm, spontaneous improvisation, and atmospheric impact. Since I was listening to a lot of classical music in my early childhood there are some influences of it particularly obvious in feeling the form, composed parts (quasi fugues), orchestrations, choice of instruments and phrasing. I use jazz approaches mainly in harmonizing, chord progressions, solo sections and backgrounds. The tunes are finally shaped among musicians, on rehearsals by trying out and by discussing. At the beginning, the group was very unstable and confused for the unusual setting and choice of musicians. But during a year of intense practicing we managed to find our common sound and style. Music of Katarchestra is a conglomerate of ethno, classical and jazz. Melodies are sang in the original language; a tribute to the music and language that we hear from the day we were born and that’s most close to us. This way every member of the group has a place to express himself most thoroughly and naturally. There is an infinite freedom in our music, created by taking away the determination of style; musicians are free to play the way they are. I’m becoming more and more aware of the number of new choices I have in writing approaches also by knowing musicians more and more. In future we tend to explore more how the group of this size and character can work, how to get one sound. We’re keep on experimenting with arrangements, playing and improvising. We started to work also on other than traditional melodies, experiment with incorporating guest musicians with their own compositions. We try to open our group to as many new possibilities as we can find. There are numberless influences, thoughts, experiences and sounds each of us can contribute and every playing together is a real exploration for all. (by K. Draksler)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/28/2006
Band Members: VOCALS; Florinda Piticchio (born 1974 in Catania (Italy) started with her jazz vocal studies in 1995 in Palermo, in a private jazz music school (Scuola Musica Insieme). Main teachers Loredana Spata and Mimmo Cafiero. During that period she had the possibility to follow basic jazz theory and harmony courses, solfege, vocal technique, repertoire, ensemble performance. Through the music school she also had the opportunity to attend many workshops with great musicians (Mark Marphy, Norma Winstone, John Taylor, Sheila Jordan, Rachel Gould…). In the meantime she started performing with her own projects as well as collaborating with other groups (Madrugada sextet, Open Jazz Orchestra, Duke Ellington’s Singers, Open Jazz Vocal Band, Vincenzo Palermo brasilian project etc.). In 1996, during “Umbriajazz” clinics, she won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1998 she moved to Bologna and where she lived there for a period getting into its musical scene. In 2002, she decided to start her studies at the “Prins Claus Conservatorium” in Groningen, Holland where she graduated in 2006. During the four years she could improve her jazz music knowledge studying with American teachers (Dena Derose, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, David Berkman, Don Braden, Ralph Peterson etc.) and getting in contact with many other musicians from all over Europe and Asia. Recently she’s attending the courses for the master degree at Rotterdam’s conservatory and working on several projects and recordings. Discography: “Open Jazz Orchestra plays musica italiana”(Splasc(h) records), “Muito Obrigato” , Vincenzo Palermo Brazilian project, “Face a face”, Madrugada (OJM records) “Zagara e sale”, Fulvio Buccafusco(Splasc(h) records).................................................... ............................................................ ...................................... FLUTES; Petra Klementová (born 1980 in Brno, Czech Republic) studied classical flute with Božena Ružicková at the State Conservatory in Brno (1994 – 2001), continued studies with František Kantor at the Janácek Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Brno and at Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen with Thies Roorda and Wieke Karsten. Recently she studies jazz flute at Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen with Juri Honing. She targets to interpretation of different kinds of music (classical, contemporary, folk, jazz music, free improvisation in music and dance). She attended the international summer course of baroque music in Valtice (with Sabine Kaipainnen), international summer course of jazz music in Frýdlant (with Jirí Stivín) and Jeunesse Moderne, international summer academy at contemporary chamber music in Weikersheim (with Carin Levine). She participated in the musical – drama project „OZ“ (with an English choreograph Olu Taiwo and Slovak director Viliam Docolomanský), performed in International Theatreschool Festival 2001 in Amsterdam. She is a member of a folk group OKO (http://oko.webz.cz), rock & blues group Panoptikum (http://www.panoptikum-music.com), of a musical association Chorovod and of a movement theater MAXIMVS (http://www.tdmaximvs.cz), cooperates with an ensemble Quakvarteto (http://www.quakvarteto.cz), performing free music improvisation and own compositions. She often cooperates with recording studios (Pivox, etc.) and theatres (HaDivadlo, Husa na Provázku, The Brno City Theatre, National Theatre Brno).CDs she participated in: Panoptikum: Panoptikum (2005), Quakvarteto: Pruvany (2001); Children’s Songs by Chick Corea (2004), Žofie Kabelková: Žiju (2003), Ivo Cicvárek a OKO: Videt víc (2000); V letadle (2002), Iva Bittová and Andreas Kröper: Echoes (2001), Mošny: Zadními vrátky (1997); Hlasy v nás (2000); Nebezpecí (2003), Jirí Bulis: Hosté na zemi (1998), CKK Band: Pokoj, zdraví, požehnání (1994)...................................................... ............................................................ .........................................OBOE; Rodica Ioan (born 1983 in Ploiesti, Romania) graduated from High school of Art Ploiesti, Romania in 2002 and continued study in the Faculty of Musical Interpretation at the National University of Music, Bucharest, Romania. Recently she studies at Prins Claus Conservatorium, Groningen, Holland. She performed all over the Europe (Romania, Russia, France, Germany, Holland,…) as soloist or a member of different groups. She was a Scholarship Member of the "Sergiu Celibidache" Foundation in Bucharest 2000. In 2003 she collaborated with Cassandra Theatre Studio Bucharest, in addition she was a founding member of the DIVERTIMENTO, performing many national and international concerts and recording CD in 2002. Prizes: 1st Prize - National Contest of Interpretation - W.A. Mozart, 2002, Award - National Olympics of Interpretation - Bucharest 2001, Diploma of Honour for special achievements and merits awarded by the President of the Prahova County Council (December 2000), Official letter to reward the contribution to the prestige of the Ploiesti School System, awarded by the Mayor of Ploiesti (September 2000), 3rd Prize - National Olympics of Interpretation -Ploiesti 2000, 1st Prize - National Contest of Interpretation -Tulcea 1998, Special Prize - National Contest of Interpretation -Deva 1997........................................................ ............................................................ ......................................CLARINET, SAXOPHONE; Rosolino Marinello (born in 1974 in Detroit, USA). In his early childhood he moved to Sicily, where he started with music playing saxophone in his town marching band. He studied classical clarinet at the "Antonio Scontrino" Conservatory in Trapani. Around 1994 he started to play jazz, folk and improvised music with local bands touring also Tunisia with a crossover band playing mixed repertoire of traditional Sicilian folk music with jazz influences. In 2001 he moved to Holland to continue his study at the "Prins Claus Consevatory" in Groningen where he gained a Bachelour of Art Degree in 2006. In Groningen he started with "Katarchestra" where he could continue his folk and jazz researches. He has performed twice in " Cinisi Tonnara Nuove Musice" jazz festival in Sicily with "Klee Group" and "Sibuli" two bands that have been important in his musical development. Recently he’s working on his master degree at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag........................................................ ............................................................ ........................VIOLONCELLO; Kristijan Krajncan (born 1986 in Kranj, Slovenia) studied violoncello at Music School Vic-Rudnik, Ljubljana, Slovenia with Igor Mitrovic. At the same time he visited High school of Music Ljubljana playing jazz drums with Aleš Rendla and Janez Gabric. He graduated from jazz drums in 2004 and continued studies at Prins Claus Conservatorium, Groningen with Owen Hart Jr., Joost van Schaik, Ralph Peterson and Steve Altenberg. As a drummer he's participating in several projects; as a leader of his own band playing his original music (Kristijan Krajncan Contemporary Jazz Ensemble) performing on several important festivals in Slovenia (Jazz Lent, Maribor), as a member of Klee Quartet, big band Stageband, Balkan Jazz Quartet,... As a cello player he was a founding member of trio K4, he performed several classical concerts in different settings and is also a member of Katarchestra. Prizes: competitions with cello: 1st Prize in Stressa (Italy, 1996 and 1997), 2nd Prize in Tortone (Italy), 1st Prize in Goriza (Italy, 1997), 3rd Prize in Zagreb (Croatia), 1st Prize of National Competition for young musicians of Slovenia (1997 and 2003). In 2000 he was as a chairman of Slovenia invited to Bergen (Norway) on a meeting of young musicians of Europe. Recently he won 1st prize jury award for best Slovene jazz composition 2006. Besides music he’s also a film director, he won several prizes with his 1st movie Augenblick(2004) in 2005 he shot another movie (Diskretni šarm ida) and another one in 2006 (Menuet for Umbrella)................................................... ............................................................ ...................................GUITAR; Leonardo Grimaudo (born 1974 in Trapani, Italy) started to play piano at the age of 8. After two years he decided to change instrument and study guitar. At the age of 18 he decided to attend the Conservatory of music getting his degree in classical guitar in 2000. During this period he moved to Palermo where he got in contact with classical and jazz musicians playing in jazz quartets and the European Big Band conducted by Gunther Schuller and Dusko Goykovich. In 2002 he decided to move to Holland (Groningen) to attend another Conservatory of jazz music. He became a Bachelor of Art (jazz guitar) in 2006. In Holland he started to work as a leader and composer of a band called “Sibuli”. After years of great experiences playing with his band in many jazz festivals such as Kaunas (Lithuania), Cinisi Tonnara Nuove Musice (Sicily) and Midnight Express in Groningen (Holland), he took place in another project with an ensemble of musicians from several countries called Katarchestra. Recently he lives in Groningen mainly composing and playing “improvised music” with his new quintet. ............................................................ ............................................................ .......................DRUMS, MARIMBA, VIBRAPHONE; Atanas Popov (born 1977 in Sofia; Bulgaria). His music education started at the age of four with piano and percussion lessons. He went to music school in Sofia (1981-1994) studying with prof. Dobri Paliev, Maria Palieva, Marina Mindova. He continued his studying of percussion in Bulgarian state Conservatory (1996-2001) with Hristo Yotzov. He decided to improve his jazz playing at Prince Claus Conservatorium in Groningen (Holland) where his teachers were Ralph Peterson and Owen Hart Jr. He played in several jazz groups there performing on jazz festivals all around Europe-Germany, Italy, Serbia, Austria with Antony Donchev theather jazz band. In Bulgaria he performed with Bansko, Bankya, Apolonia-Assen Doykin, Zona C, Infinity, Maria Ilieva, Antony Donchev, Dimitar Liolev etc. He was also a member of a successful group called Sibuli, they performed in festivals in Sicily and Kaunas. 2002-2006 he was playing with Mogambo, Ludmil Krumov quartet, Brown Sugar, Katarchestra, Los Bomberos and many others...................................................... ............................................................ ....................................... LEADER, ARRANGER, PIANO; Kaja Draksler (born 1987 in Kranj, Slovenia) started to play piano at the age of four in a small music school. At the age of twelve he was accepted at The Secondary Music School in Ljubljana, where she studied with Vladimir Mlinaric (SLO). After finishing primary school (age fourteen) she continued with her studies on the jazz department as a student of Veljko Glodic (CRO). At the same time she was visiting Classical Gymnasium Ljubljana. After graduation (2005) she decided to continue her studies at Prince-Claus Conservatorium (Groningen, Holland) as a student of Marc van Roon(NL) and David Berkman (USA). She started with writing/arranging already during her high school studies; with several projects of original music (trio (violin-cello-voice) called K4, choir Mora Vocis) also collaborating with theatre and young poets. She was touring Belgium and France with K4 in 2004. The same year she was invited to work with Diocesian youth choir touring Germany and Sweden. 2005 she wrote the music for the theater play Goli clovek (Naked man) written by Slovenian poet and writer Eva Krasevec. In Holland she started with a new international project (Katarchestra) arranging traditional melodies for 7-8 piece band. Since September 2005 she’s been playing in big band Stageband (winner of The Dutch Big Band contest 2004 and National Big Band contest 2006 and 2007), in December 2005 she became a member of Suna quintet (trying to mix Balkan/ Eastern music with jazz), since February 2006 she plays in Kristijan Krajncan Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, a group that’s been very much accepted and known in Slovenia. In August 2006 she won 2nd prize jury award and 1st prize audience award for composition Mr. Falajk. In September 2006 she became a part of the company Galili Dance, accompanying professional dancers in their technique classes and thus experiencing the connection of music and movement. In 2006 she was invited to work with European Movement Orchestra (conducted by Manfred Schoof). The tour in Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Belgium followed in March and April 2007. Also recently she wrote a concert for accordion and orchestra in three movements based on a story of Orpheus and Eurydice performed and recorded by Janez Dovc and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2007.
Influences: /
Sounds Like: Katarchestra
Record Label: Celinka
Type of Label: None