User:Ratko zjaca/sandbox

Ratko Zjaca- guitarist/composer /recording artist/educator with many critically acclaimed recordings under his name he has recorded and performed with some of the most influential musicians in  jazz and modern  improvisation music. He is an innovative musician, who is widely recognized as a technically advanced guitarist. He is known for being a relentless individualist, which is evidenced in his improvisational style. Ratko is a highly versatile player covering many areas of music but is best known for his work in the modern jazz and improvisation idiom and released a number of albums as leader and sideman. Ratko is considered a very gifted stylist, assumes many roles in his macrocosm of music: contemporary guitarist, composer, performer etc. Born in Croatia, Ratko in his early days was attracted by the sound of the guitar, both subversive sounds like those produced by Jimi Hendrix and from the classics like Bach and van Beethoven. He studied and graduated from Zagreb University. In his drive for the necessary knowledge and the enormous need for studies he sought his refuge in The Netherlands at the Rotterdam Conservatory, famous for its studies of modern music. There he could get teachings by well-known masters. He also followed masterclasses and personal courses with Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick, Mike Stern, Bob Brookmayer, John Abercrombie and others. Unlike some of his colleagues Ratko is not focusing only on saxophone phraseologies, but is continuously expanding the guitar's vocabulary within today's world of music. Whilst improving his performance to create his typical own sound and style, Ratko as a gifted teacher with a loaded teaching schedule, is capable of transposing most advanced phrases and concepts into structures, suitable for every musician. He gives master classes all around the world for guitar and fretless guitar, in countries like Slovenia, the Netherlands, France, Croatia and the United States. After completing his study at the Rotterdam Conservatory, he also studied at New York University School of Music. He started to work with own group and with American trumpet veteran Benny Bailey. Ratko participated at many international festivals and has been booked for the major club dates at the European and American scene. Ratko has constantly made major efforts to enrich his experience with appearances and recordings. He was also performing and recording with Benny Bailey, Randy Brecker, Gary Peacock, Reggie Workman, John Pattituci, Al Foster, Steve Gadd, Miroslav Vitous, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Jeff Tain Watts, Alvin Queen, Adam Nussbaum, Shawnn Monteiro etc. In April 2000 Ratko recorded "A Day in Manhattan" in New York with the jazz stars Reggie Workman and Al Foster. Ratko is currently composing music and working on a new world music project on which he plays baritone, sitar, fretless, soprano, electric and acoustic guitars - this will be the second part of his previous record Shades of Spirit, Fretless Guitar Project. Ratko released a quartet recording, Crossing The Border, in New York City with John Patitucci, Al Foster and Stan Mitrovic, with all original compisitions of all members of the quartet. Ratko released a record, Continental Talk, with John Patitucci, Steve Gadd, Randy Brecker and Stan Mitrovic. Ratko just released a new record on In+Out Records, The Way We Talk, with Simone Zanchini, Adam Nussbaum and Martin Gjakonovski. Ratko's new recording Now and Then is out with Simone Zanchini, Miroslav Vitous, John Patitucci, Reggie Workman, Steve Gadd, Randy Brecker and others on In + Out Records. He recorded a new album with the ZZ Quartet 2013 Beyond the lines (Zjaca, Zanchini, Nussbaum, Gjakonovski). Ratko just record new album in NYC is out january 2016 with Simone Zanchini,Stefano Bedetti ,John Patitucci and Adam Nussbaum "Life on earth with” Ratko with  Antonio Sanchez ,Renato Chicco and Stefano Bedetti 2018

Ratko endorses Mirabella Guitars. Ratko endorses Godin Guitars. Ratko Zjaca is nominated for best jazz guitarist in South American El Intruso New Creative Music Critics Poll Award for 2010. The CD “ Don’t try this anymore” has won the Orpheus Award for 2016 - the best Italian production 2015 for jazz music CD Recording Releases

Ratko Zjaca Nocturnal Mission Quartet

"The Bag is Packed" - Benny Bailey Group

Ratko Zjaca Quartet live jazz festival

"A Day in Manhattan" - Ratko Zjaca, Reggie Workman, Al Foster

"Live" - Reggie Workman and Jim Cobb Sextet

"Shades of Spirit", Fretless Guitar Project - Ratko Zjaca and Stanislav Mitrovic

"Crossing The Border" - Ratko Zjaca, Stan Mitrovic, John Pattituci, Al Foster

"Continental Talk" - Ratko Zjaca, John Patitucci, Steve Gadd, Stan Mitrovic, Randy Brecker

"The Way We Talk" - Ratko Zjaca, Simone Zanchini, Adam Nussbaum, Martin Gjakonovski

"Now and Then" - Ratko Zjaca with Simone Zanchini, Miroslav Vitous, John Patitucci, Reggie Workman, Adam Nussbaum, Steve Gadd, Al Foster and others

"Beyond The Lines" - Ratko Zjaca, Simone Zanchini, Adam Nussbaum, Martin Gjakonovski

"Don't Try This Anywhere" - Simone Zanchini, Ratko Zjaca, John Patitucci, Adam Nussbaum and Stefano Bedetti

"Life on Earth" Ratko with Antonio Sanchez, Stefano Bedetti and Renato Chicco.