User:DavKaj34/sandbox

DAVOR KAJFES

Pianist, composer and teacher from Zagreb, Croatia. He graduated at the Academy of Music in Zagreb in 1964, but his professional playing experience dates back to 1957, when he began performing with the Zagreb Radio-TV Big Band. While with the big band, he composed music for the worldly known Zagreb Film Company and various TV shows. In 1959, he joined the Zagreb Jazz Quartet and quickly thereafter became its leader. In the period that followed, he toured with the quartet in Europe and the USSR, and played and recorded with: Art Farmer, Buck Clayton, JeromeRichardson, Julius Watkins - Helen Humes, Willie Dixon ("The first European Blues tour"), Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Csaba Deseo, Albert Mangelsdorff, Red Mitchell, and other prominent jazz musicians and singers.

Since 1967, Davor has been a resident of Stockholm, Sweden, where he performed among others with Swend Asmussen and Alice Babs. With her he also made a record “Simple Isn’t Easy”. His daily work was devoted to the University College of Dance and Choreography, where he has been teaching, playing and composing for dance (modern and jazz) for more than 30 years. Additional composing and performances included the TV ballet “Balanse” with W. Nicks as choreographer, and the TV production “Choreographer is Improvising” with P. Christopher. On his many visits to his native city Zagreb, he played in many concerts, jazz clubs, and made various recordings at the radio, TV Zagreb and CD productions.

Most important performances were in 1979, at the Monterey Jazz Festival with trio and “BP Convention” group. In 1995-96, he played piano duo with John Lewis in a performance in Stockholm and Zagreb. In Sweden he released two CD’s one with the cellist Peter Schuback: ”Impositions” and the other one - piano solo: ”Mirrors”. 2009 Kajfes received honorary award for his outstanding performance at the concert in connection with his 75-years Birthday and the 50 year of the Zagreb Jazz Quartet's creation.