Czajka & Puchacz

Czajka & Puchacz (Lapwing & Eagle Owl) is a Copenhagen-based duo of Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler and Polish drummer Szymon Gasiorek. In their semi-composed pieces, they work with space, silence, sparkling textures planted into a rhythmic gravitation, careful distribution of melodic comfort and amount of information.Their musical language is enriched by audio tape samples deriving from Polish and Slovenian fairy tales. Musique concrete and European free improvisation meet the melodies of disco polo, rock riffs and drilling of woodpeckers.

Kaja Draksler (SI) - prepared piano and percussionSzymon Gasiorek (PL) - drums, percussion and electronics

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Kaja Draksler is a Slovenian pianist and composer. After her studies in the Netherlands, she decided to stay in Amsterdam, where she is an active member of the improvisors scene, performingextensively all over the Europe. She is one of the founding members of the interdisciplinary group I/O and part of the internationally acclaimed Doek collective. Besides her frequent solo performances and various ongoing collaborative projects, she is currently focusing on her own (Amsterdam-based) Octet. As a composer she has been commissioned by various international groups, ranging from vocal and chamber ensembles to big bands and orchestras. In the spirit of the Dutch jazz/improvised music legacy, Kaja is drawn to the idea of erasing the stylistic and historical musical borders, and discovering personal expression and language through composition and improvisation.

Szymon Gasiorek is a Copenhagen-based Polish drummer, composer andimproviser working within multiple contexts. Graduated from Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. He is a leader and co- leader of such bands as: Pimpono Ensemble, Past And Future Don’t Exist And Now Is The Rhythm, The Love And Beauty Seekers, Wood Organization, Gadedrengehop, I Love My Mother, Mother Urano, Alfons Slik, as well as a part of G•Bop Orchestra, Franciszek Pospieszalski Sextet, Perfect Volume and Tomasz Sroczynski Trio. He has co-founded a collective and record label Love & Beauty Music. Involved in organizing DIY festivals and event series as Dzwieko Działka or ‚_is happening’.