Jazz Ravne may well be one of the smallest members of the Europe Jazz Network. We work in Koroška, a small region in northern Slovenia, far from the country’s main cultural centres. Yet this peripheral location has also shaped our identity: we believe that important musical stories can begin in small places and that international connections are especially valuable for organisations working outside large cities.
On 13 August, we will present Jazzbina, our own original production dedicated to Mojmir Sepe, one of Slovenia’s most important composers, arrangers and conductors. The concert will take place in Žerjav, within the municipality of Črna na Koroškem, where Sepe was born.
For one evening, the local venue known as Jazbina will once again become Jazzbina. The wordplay reflects the spirit of the event: an informal local gathering place transformed through jazz, memory and collaboration.
Sepe’s music will be performed by the Koroška Big Band, conducted by Aljaž Dobnik, together with singer Adrijana Kamnik and young vocalists Anamarija Kobolt, Klara Kobolt, Zala Črešnik, Zoja Dobnik and their mentor Veronika Kumar. The production brings together experienced musicians, young performers and the community from which one of Slovenia’s most influential musical creators emerged.
For many years, we have been working to preserve Mojmir Sepe’s musical legacy in his birthplace while introducing his work to new generations. For us, heritage is not something that should remain preserved only in archives. It stays alive when musicians reinterpret it, young people discover it and communities recognise it as part of their own story.
Jazzbina is a pre-festival event for the 22nd Festival of Slovenian Jazz, which will take place across the Koroška region at the end of November. This year’s festival will once again connect concerts, original productions, education, young musicians and cross-border collaboration.
As a small EJN member, we are always interested in meeting colleagues, exchanging ideas and developing new artistic, educational and international partnerships. EJN members interested in visiting the August event, learning more about the November festival or discussing possible future collaborations are warmly invited to contact us.
More information:
https://www.jazzravne.si/event/jazzbina-koroski-big-band-z-gostjami