EX YU QUARTET

Adam Klemm, saxophone
Milan Stanisavljević, piano
Goran Rukavina, double bass
Ratko Divjak, drums

A classic combination with a retro touch – jazz standards with the energy of experienced musicians living in Slovenia from different parts of the former Yugoslavia.

The saxophonist Adam Klemm comes from Novi Sad. After graduating from music high school in his hometown, he completed his master’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz (jazz saxophone). He also studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with a scholarship from the Austrian Ministry of Culture. He is the leader of the Adam Klemm Band, with whom he recorded the album Hot Coolen in 2007, which was released by the Slovene record label Sensor Records. In 2015, he released the double CD Nostalgija (Celinka record label), and in 2019, the album Instant Pleasure (ZKP RTV Slovenia). He has been living in Slovenia since 2005 and is a soloist of the Big Band RTV Slovenia. Since 2005, he has been a member of the artistic council of the Novi Sad Jazz Festival.

Pianist and composer Milan Stanisavljević started playing piano at the age of nine. At first, he was interested in classical music, but when he heard Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, he became attracted to jazz. He made his first jazz steps together with Belgrade pianist Miloš Krstić. He studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where he completed his master’s degree in 2010. At the same time, he also graduated at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. During his studies in Graz, he perfected his knowledge with great musicians, such as Billy Hart, Ron McLure, Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Santoro, John Hollenbeck, Geofrey Keezer, George Cooligan, Howard Curtis, etc. He is the leader of the Milan Stanisavljević Trio; the albums he recorded with them were accompanied by a tremendous response from the audience and the critics. Stanisavljević has performed in Austria, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, where he often performs as a “sideman” in various jazz projects. He has collaborated with many prominent jazz players of the Slovenian and international scene.

Goran Rukavina studied double bass and bass guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. He graduated in 2007. He leads his own ensemble (G.R. Trio) and plays in numerous (smaller) combo ensembles. Among the musicians with whom he performed, let us mention Primož Grašič, Rok Golob, Tamara Obrovac, Zdenka Kovačićek, Gabi Novak, Matija Dedić, Teo Collori, Bruno Mičetič, etc. Rukavina has collaborated with renowned big bands (HGM Jazz Orchestra Zagreb, Big Band RTV Slovenija, VIP Jazz Festival Big Band Zagreb, Lasse Lindgren Big band, Big Band Dalmatia, Petit Big Band), as well as classically oriented orchestras and ensembles (Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Edin Karamazov Quartet).

Ratko Divjak, a jazz legend on drums, has distinctly marked the music scene in Slovenia and abroad. His rich career began in a rock band, but he was then drawn to the jazz world. In collaboration with RTV Slovenia’s great Big Band soloists, he has performed with many ensembles (such as Ugrin-Divjak Quintet) and with soloists such as Petar Ugrin, Boško Petrović, Duško Gojković, Stjepko Gut, Primož Grašič, Jure Pukl, Jani Moder, Adam Klemm, Aleš Avbelj, Blaž Jurjevčič, Blaž Trček, etc. He has performed at various jazz festivals including Los Angeles, Monterey, Sacramento, Montreux, Berlin and Bologna. He has collaborated with famous musicians (Art Farmer, Gary Burton, Stan Getz, Joe Pass, NHOP Pedersen, Sal Nistico, Albert Mangelsdorf, Dave Libman, Tony Coe, Ferdinand Powel, Gianni Basso, Richard Davis, Joe Pass, Mike Stern, Steve Swallow, etc.). He has played with the Big Band RTV Slovenia under the brilliant conductor Jože Privšek and under many other famous conductors, such as Herb Pomeroy, Michael Abene, Ed Partyka, Peter Herbolzheimer, Mercer Ellington, Maria Schneider, Jerry van Rooyen, Carla Bley, Mike Westbrook, David Murray, George Lewis, Bill Holman, Bob Mintzer and Lalo Schifrin. In recent years, he has been collaborating with excellent established young musicians who have been successful in domestic and international ensembles.

Free admission.