Jazz Cerkno Records has added another album with inspired musicianship to the list of its discography releases, and on top of that, it is the first label’s album recorded at the Keltika concert series. The album is Gozd / Forest by the Slovenian-British trio Drašler / Jackson / Thompson, consisting of daring jazz musicians and improvisers of the younger and middle generation, who first got together in 2016. In that year, the three musicians met for the first time at the two-day residency of CRAM Records in Ljubljana, which was organized by KUD Mreža. They later performed on various occasions and in 2019 their debut album Nauportus was released on the prestigious Portuguese label Creative Sources. The album Gozd / Forest contains two longer compositions, characterised by refined musicianship, skillful interweaving of multilayered rhythmic patterns and harmonic structures, as well as a sense of dedication and refined mutual communication.
Vid Drašler is one of the most prominent creators of the Slovenian new jazz scene. In addition to the two trios in which he played with his bassist brother Jošt, Balžalorsky/Drašler 3o and Drašler/Karlovčec/Drašler, his projects include the bands TiTiTi and Oholo! He published the album V kulturnem domu with Tom Jackson, a member of this trio. In addition to improvisation, Jackson primarily focuses on contemporary classical music; he is principal clarinetist of the New London Sinfonia, British Sinfonietta and National Chamber Orchestra of Wales. He has a doctorate in aesthetics and free improvisation. Daniel Thompson studied with guitarist John Russell for two years and is intensively involved in the London improv scene. He is the founder and artistic director of Empty Birdcage Records. Among the musicians he has played with are names such as Steve Noble, John Edwards and Evan Parker. The album Gozd / Forest, which was recorded on December 15 2023 at the Keltika concert series in Cerkno Music School, is available on CD and digital streaming platforms.