Zgrabi Zvok Big Band
thursday, 10. 7.
Zgrabi Zvok (“Grab the Sound”) is a summer school organized by MareziJazz in collaboration with JazzObala, a collective of top-tier jazz musicians and mentors coordinated by Sandi Štor. Naturally, the Zgrabi Zvok Big Band will also take part in marking the 20th anniversary of the festival, and for the third year in a row, they will open the event—this time on Thursday evening.
During the week-long educational program, which combines theory, instrumental practice, group rehearsals, and improvisation, participants will prepare several jazz standards, as well as two original compositions by Ian Baumgartner and Ema Marušič, former students of the Zgrabi Zvok summer school. The big band arrangements were written by trumpet mentor Jan Lovšin and theory mentor Sandi Štor.
Bend-it! Orchestra
thursday, 10. 7.
The bandits are coming to the MareziJazz stage, carrying a giant bag of dynamite to make Thursday night explode in the rhythm of funk! Don’t let their colorful shirts fool you—this gang kills it with their music.
The local Bend-it! Orchestra (who also help organize the festival) will take us back to the late ’70s funk era and beyond, with a repertoire packed with hits by American funk legends Tower of Power.
Powerful vocals are delivered by Manca Kozlovič, while the band is kept in check by the steady hand of conductor Primož Štefančič, to make sure the groove doesn’t get too wild.
For those who missed their recent shows at CMK Koper and Studio Hendrix on Radio Koper, this is the perfect chance to catch the dirtiest, funkiest gang of bandits from the Koper countryside!
En Big Band
thursday, 10. 7.
Missing those South American rhythms? Feeling the urge to dance? Then En Big Band is just what you need!
Behind the simple name lies a refined mix of trained enthusiasts and professional musicians from Slovenian Istria, constantly seeking out fresh, genre-blending projects. They’ve recorded an album featuring jazz arrangements of iconic cartoon music, and have organized competitions for aspiring vocalists and composers.
In the past, they’ve collaborated with major names in Slovenian music, such as Elda Viler, Vlado Kreslin, Tulio Furlanič, and Rudi Bučar.
This year, with the fantastic vocalist Ema Marušič, they’ve prepared a vibrant Latin funk repertoire just for you!
After Sandi left last year to study in the Netherlands, En Big Band is once again led by one of its founding members and original conductor — Mitja Bobič
3 Big Band Orchestra
thursday, 10. 7.
3 Big Band Orchestra was the first big band in Slovenian Istria, founded with the support of a legend of Slovenian orchestral jazz, Jože Privšek, conductor of the RTV Slovenia Big Band. The name reflects the musicians’ origins from the three coastal municipalities of the time.
This experienced ensemble has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Slovenian jazz and pop, including vocalists Nuška Drašček, Mia Žnidarič, Darja Švajger, and our very own Mojca Maljevac, as well as top instrumentalists like pianist Renato Chicco and guitarist Teo Collori—with whom they’ve prepared a special program for this year’s festival appearance.
They will take us on a musical journey from Stevie Wonder’s funk, through Arturo Sandoval’s Latin ballads, all the way to modern gypsy jazz. The majority of the repertoire consists of original compositions by Teo Collori, plus a piece by Aljoša Boljeta.
Even though they come from a neighboring municipality, they have only performed at MareziJazz twice before, so it is a great honor to have them join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary.
Robert Vatovec Big Band
thursday, 10. 7.
When it comes to names that helped awaken the orchestral jazz scene on the Slovenian coast, this next ensemble is among the most deserving!
The big band led by Robert Vatovec is one of the pioneers of the new wave of Slovenian big bands formed in the early 2000s. It served as a role model and inspiration for many young musicians setting out on their jazz journeys. As such, it played an important role in the early years of MareziJazz, and this year—after a 10-year break—they return to our stage to celebrate our anniversary together.
They have prepared a dynamic repertoire that blends original music by Robert Vatovec, Italian canzoni, and English soul and rock.
This very ensemble was also the starting point of the big band journey for the late Mateja Filipič, a saxophonist and one of the key organizers of MareziJazz. The band is dedicating this performance to her memory.
In the past, the Robert Vatovec Big Band has collaborated with outstanding vocalists such as Tadeja Fatur and Eva Brajkovič, and in recent years, they have been working with Viviana. They regularly partner on projects with prominent local and national musicians and groups—including Mef, Vlado Kreslin, Teo Collori, Ana Pupedan, Platana, Faraoni, Anika Horvat, Rudi Bučar, Ne me jugat, and others. The band frequently performs at official municipal events in Koper (MOK), including Personality of Primorska and Annexation of Primorska to the Homeland.
Jazz Hiccups
friday, 11. 7.
Missing last year’s fantastic performance by the jazz ensemble from the Waldorf School Ljubljana?
They’re returning to our stage—under a new name: Jazz Hiccups!
Maintaining such a high level of quality over time is no easy feat—especially for a high school band that changes members every year. Developing and expanding a group like this, from a saxophone quartet to a combo and now a jazz orchestra, is an even greater challenge. But thanks to the dedication of mentors Jan Jarni and Žiga Fabbro, they’ve done it exceptionally well.
Two years ago, they wowed us with brilliant arrangements and flawless performances of a Frank Zappa repertoire. Last year, they brought us a set of Japanese jazz inspired by anime soundtracks and video games. Since then, they’ve spent the whole year geeking out on new games and anime just so they could prepare a fresh, even more powerful selection of tracks—which they’re now taking into the recording studio!
Jazz Punt Big Band
friday, 11. 7.
What would a 20th birthday be without inviting some old friends?
Jazz Punt Big Band is one of those ensembles that has performed at MareziJazz so often, they might as well apply for permanent residency.
They’re also celebrating their own 20th anniversary this year! To mark the occasion—and to highlight their connection to their hometown beyond just their name—they’ve prepared a unique repertoire of arrangements based on traditional folk songs from the Tolmin region.
They teamed up with exceptional Slovenian musicians such as Blaž Pahor, Jan Lovšin, Gašper Kržmanc, Anže Vrabec, and others, to craft contemporary jazz arrangements that preserve and elevate Tolmin’s cultural heritage.
And don’t think they only perform here—Jazz Punt Big Band proudly recalls their wins at international big band competitions in Hungary (2013) and Czechia (2015), where they earned the highest scores among all participants. They’ve also performed at the renowned Nišville Jazz Festival in Serbia and the Big Band Festival in Šiauliai, Lithuania.
They regularly collaborate with vocalist Tanja Srednik, and often with guest artists like Boštjan Gombač, Ana Bezjak, Mia Žnidarič, Uroš Perić, Mike Sponza, and many more.
Jazz Punt Big Band has been led since its founding by trombonist Matija Mlakar—congratulations to him and the entire band on 20 years of success!
Big Band Cerknica
friday, 11. 7.
Big Band Cerknica (BBC) – long-time friends of the festival and one of the pioneers of the new wave of big bands in the region – served as inspiration and encouragement for many emerging ensembles over 20 years ago. They’ve stood by MareziJazz since the very first editions. They also organize their own jazz concerts, with a tradition even older than ours: Cerkniško Jazzero (winter) and Presihajoče Jazzero (summer), where they collaborate with jazz musicians and renowned Slovenian vocalists such as Nina Strnad, Jadranka Juras, Ana Bezjak, Hamo, and others.
Over the years, they’ve released two albums and collaborated with Janez Dovč on the soundtrack for the Irish feature film The Belly of the Whale (2018).
Many big band stories begin at MareziJazz. Sometimes, one must come to an end.
Since 2013, BBC has been under the artistic direction of jazz tubist and composer Goran Krmac, who now passes the baton to the talented Primož Štefančič. Krmac has decided to say goodbye in style—with a suite of six original compositions for tuba and big band, thematically and musically exploring pure ideas: melodic tunes approached with depth and thoughtfulness, and plenty of space for soloists.
Big Band Grosuplje
friday, 11. 7.
Big Band Grosuplje will present the program “A Swingin’ Affair” at this year’s MareziJazz—a unique musical tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra, featuring vocalist Blaž Vrbič and conducted by renowned saxophonist Klemen Kotar.
Alongside Sinatra’s greatest hits, the program will include rarely performed songs from his collaborations with the Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras.
Founded in 1998, when such ensembles were still a rarity in Slovenia, Big Band Grosuplje was established under the Grosuplje Music School and led by Braco Doblekar, a legend of the Slovenian music scene. Their extensive experience on major stages across Slovenia and abroad—as well as on radio and television—has shaped them into an outstanding ensemble.
They’ve collaborated with international artists such as the Western Jazz Quartet, Arthur Lipner, Rick Stitzel, and Boško Petrović, and with leading Slovenian vocalists including Elda Viler, Oto Pesner, and Darja Švajger, among many others.
When conductors Rudi Javornik and Klemen Kotar need a break, they often invite guest conductors for special projects, including Sigi Feigl, Aleš Suša, and Gašper Kržmanc.
Big Band De Conservatorie de Fribourg
friday, 11. 7.
Friday evening will be closed by special guests from abroad — the Big Band du Conservatoire de Fribourg from Fribourg Conservatory (Switzerland), composed of local professors and talented students. Perhaps that is why they say the meaning of music for them lies in the exchange of knowledge.
In addition to regular concerts at festivals and events in the Fribourg canton, the ensemble frequently performs internationally (Paris, Cuba, New Orleans, and Brazil), often with renowned soloists such as Patrick Artéro, Adam Nussbaum, Marvin Stamm, Clark Terry, and Phil Woods. They will perform under the baton of Mathieu Kyriakidis, who has been successfully leading them since 2020.
On our stage, they will conclude their mini-tour of Slovenia, and for their first visit here, they have prepared a repertoire that blends early swing classics and big band standards with somewhat unexpected arrangements of pop songs.
Koroški Big Band
saturday, 12. 7.
To open the Saturday evening, a new addition from the Slovenian big band scene — Koroški Big Band. Conductor Aljaž Dobnik has brought together a team of young and more experienced members from the local music association to try their hand at big band music. They gave their first solo concert a year ago and just over a week ago had the opportunity to perform with the renowned Slovenian vocalist Uroš Perić.
For their first appearance at MareziJazz, they have prepared a sort of retrospective repertoire — ranging from Slovenian popular songs, through funky rhythms, to swing and big band classics. They will be joined not by one, but two vocalists: Anamarija Kobolt and Ana Zoja Dobnik.
Big Band NOVA
saturday, 12. 7.
This big band, formed by passionate teachers and students of the Nova Gorica Music School, actively nurtures young generations of jazz musicians, many of whom go on to pursue jazz studies both in Slovenia and abroad. One of these is their new conductor, the talented pianist and composer Blaž Pahor, who is also a mentor at our summer school.
In their thirty years of activity, they have collaborated not only with numerous Slovenian musicians but also with international artists—such as American vocalists Sherrita Duran and Gwen Hughes.
For this year’s performance at MareziJazz, they are returning to their roots—swing, which they had somewhat set aside in recent years. They have prepared an excellent and challenging repertoire based on the works of Count Basie and his collaborations with Diane Schuur and Ella Fitzgerald. The demanding vocals will be performed by the outstanding Maruša Kos, who is studying solo singing in Graz. We can look forward to top-notch renditions of these jazz standards.
Big Band Krško
saturday, 12. 7.
The final Slovenian ensemble at the 20th MareziJazz Festival will be Big Band Krško. Veterans of the Slovenian big band scene—approaching their fiftieth anniversary—are among the most prominent and high-quality big bands in Slovenia. Many excellent instrumentalists, now professional musicians, have emerged from under their wing.
After twenty years of successful leadership, in 2022 Aleš Suša laid down the conductor’s baton to pick up the saxophone instead. Since then, they have been collaborating with guest conductors on projects. On our stage, Klara Lavriša and Štêpánka Balcarova have already performed with them, alongside other notable names such as Sigi Feigel, Izidor Leitinger, Steve Klink, and others.
For their tenth appearance at MareziJazz, in collaboration with vocalist Anja Kramar, they will perform a selection of popular international hits, with many of the arrangements prepared by conductor Bojan Zupančič.
EuroCubans
saturday, 12. 7.
We will conclude this year’s festival in grand style! MareziJazz has probably never hosted such distinguished musicians before…
We are talking about EuroCubans, a fourteen-member ensemble made up of stars of Cuban music and their Slovenian friends.
The band includes the world-renowned singer and leader Juan de Marcos González (founder of Buena Vista Social Club and Afro Cuban All Stars), trumpeter Juan Munguia (two-time Grammy winner and successor to Arturo Sandoval in the legendary Irakere band), bassist and music educator Carlos Del Puerto (two-time Grammy winner and member of Irakere), and their fellow Afro Cuban All Stars bandmates: percussionist Jose “Pepe” Espinosa, pianist David Alfaro, and excellent vocalist Jose “Pepito” Gomez. Slovenian flags are represented by percussionist Črt Pšeničnik, trumpeter Andrej Štrekelj, and Istrian trombonist Denis Beganović.
The band’s formation is largely thanks to Črt Pšeničnik, who after two decades of visiting Cuba and playing with local musicians, proposed the collaboration to González.
Their concerts are the epitome of cultural exchange, offering insights into the history and modernity of Cuban music, blending nostalgic classics from Havana’s golden age with complex Afro-jazz rhythms, and leading into contemporary music that sounds fresh, seductive, and cosmopolitan. “We play Afro-Cuban jazz, bolero, son montuno, updated modern songs, traditional styles,” says González.
They captivate not only sonically but also as a complete spectacle—the energy and rhythm infect the audience with the desire to dance.
You are invited to an evening with legends of Cuban music! And don’t forget your dancing shoes!