Vladan

New York City-based jazz pianist and composer VLADAN began playing the piano at age 7, as the latest incarnation of a generations-long dynasty steeped in the unique Balkan musical tradition.

After completing music school in his hometown, VLADAN continued his education at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich (Jazz Piano), studying with world-renowned Russian jazz pianist Leonid Chizhik and graduating with honors. In 2010 he received a prestigious scholarship from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Since 2006 VLADAN has recorded and performed extensively, most often as part of a trio or as soloist. Starting in 2009, his trio started giving FOLK-MEETS-JAZZ-themed concerts. Next, he made a solo piano recording entitled Mamazone (music for people who have cancer) released in Germany. LOFT Music, a major German production company, has organized a series of Folk meets jazz concerts, for which VLADAN composed several songs closely linked to his native musical tradition and played by him on piano and keyboards with a distinctive Balkan sound.

As part of his musical background, VLADAN has continuously combined music from Eastern Europe with the modern jazz and classical music idioms, finding a fine fusion of the two. He has performed around the world with his trio and as a solo pianist, and has built an international following, with audiences having come to expect a singular, intense experience at his performances. Via his original iteration of the Balkan musical tradition, personal playing technique and treatment of progressive ornamentation and poly-rhythmic beats, and his at once dynamic and sensitive spirit, VLADAN has built a distinctive musical style incorporating the revolutionary combination of acoustic and electric sounds – something rare in jazz.

VLADAN received the Best Jazz Musician in Germany and Best Jazz Solo awards at the International Jazz Piano Competition in Freiburg, Germany in both 2010 and 2011. In 2013, The Tesla Science Foundation presented him with an award recognizing his contribution to promoting the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla through music. Throughout the years, VLADAN has also been featured as a sideman on many award-winning albums. In addition to performing with and leading various small ensembles, VLADAN has frequently collaborated with various chamber orchestras, and has written a large corpus of music for orchestra and jazz ensembles.

VLADAN has toured globally with his trio and quartet, performing at premiere venues throughout the world, including Carnegie Hall, The World Trade Center, Carl-Orff-Saal, BB King New York, Tammany Hall, Parish Hall, and many other performance spaces in various countries throughout 6 continents.

In October 2014 VLADAN will present his new Solo Piano album, Ornaments, at a performance at Carnegie Hall.

Awards

Best Jazz Musician 2010 Best Jazz Solo Piano Performance 2011 Best Jazz Solo Piano Performance 2012 The Tesla Science Foundation presented him with an award recognizing his contribution to promoting the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla through Music

Gear

Yamaha Grand Piano, Yamaha Motif XF 7, Yamaha Motif XF 8, Yamaha S90 ES, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Korg Kronos, Waldorf Blofeld, Open Labs Neko