Big Band RTV Slovenija and Tomaž Gajšt

Tomaž Gajšt has been a member of the Big Band RTV Slovenija for thirteen years. During this time, he has asserted himself as a key player in the trumpet section and an excellent soloist, as evidenced by the numerous live recordings and the many albums released over the recent years – as a soloist, he features on almost every album recorded by the Big Band RTV Slovenija. Gajšt has not only made his mark in the band, but also more broadly in jazz music, and is considered to be one of Slovenia’s best trumpeters of recent times, known for his exceptional musicianship and delivery. Having already garnered recognition as a composer, arranger and conductor, he is now premiering his new project with the Big Band and under the baton of Lojze Krajnčan. His body of work is imbued with the experience he has gained from numerous collaborations and from playing the compositions of his closest musical friends. While drawing on jazz traditions, his original compositions nevertheless sound extremely fresh and modern, reflecting vivid contrasts and a variety of musical elements. Gajšt's musical ideas are underscored by various lyricists (in some compositions) and enhanced by Lojze Krajnčan’s masterly orchestral arrangements.

Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the Big Band RTV Slovenija has gained renown as a preeminent institution in Slovenian jazz and popular music. Throughout its time-honoured existence, the Big Band has collaborated with world-class musicians from all over the world and built an extensive discography that bears witness to the development of jazz tradition in Slovenia. Over the decades, the orchestra has been setting new standards of excellence in the big-band format, being synonymous with a large ensemble of high professional standing that combines experience, innovation and dedication to music.