PERFORMERS

Deep Steady is an instrumental ensemble founded in Novi Sad in 2016, recognised as one of the few bands in the former Yugoslav region that combines the traditions of Jamaican music and American jazz. Their sound is rooted in ska, reggae and calypso rhythms, enriched with jazz harmonies and a strong improvisational approach, drawing inspiration from artists such as The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, and the guitar style of Ernest Ranglin.

Over the years, the band has built an extensive live performance portfolio, appearing at major festivals and events across the region and Europe, including EXIT Festival, the Street Musicians Festival, Rhythm of Europe, Interfest, Green Town Jazz Fest, Skaville Festival, Jazz Festival Križevci, as well as numerous performances throughout Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have also taken part in international projects, including Parks4All in Szeged, Hungary.

The ensemble consists of musicians active on the Novi Sad music scene, each with experience in numerous bands and projects: Dušan Maurić, Vuk Čuvardić, Predrag Okiljević, Dejan Matić, Zoran Tegeltija, and Ana Milosavljević. To date, they have released two albums — Deep Steady (2018) and Storyteller (2023).

Their performances deliver an energetic, engaging and danceable instrumental programme that naturally bridges jazz improvisation with the rich traditions of reggae and ska.

Boris Hložan is a guitarist of the new jazz generation and one of the most distinctive voices on the contemporary Serbian jazz scene. From his early days studying classical guitar to exploring jazz improvisation, from workshops with renowned masters to performances on festival stages, his music carries the spirit of tradition while speaking through a modern jazz language.

Joining Hložan in the sextet are Ivan Klačar (soprano saxophone), Ljubomir Turajlija (tenor saxophone), Kosta Vukašinović (trombone), Fedor Ruškuc (double bass), and Nemanja Tasić (drums).

The Boris Hložan Sextet performance brings a rich ensemble sound and a meaningful artistic blend of tradition and contemporary expression, highlighting and promoting the Serbian jazz scene.

Valeriia Shurgalina is a jazz vocalist from Russia. She completed formal studies in jazz singing and has performed at numerous festivals, competitions, and concerts. Throughout her career, she has led her own band and spent many years working as a vocal teacher and choir director.

She currently lives in Serbia, where she collaborates with musicians from diverse backgrounds and takes part in a variety of musical projects. Her experience includes concert performances, festival programmes, and work with vocal ensembles.

In her artistic work, she remains devoted to the jazz tradition while embracing a wide range of musical styles and contemporary interpretations.

Avishai Cohen is one of the most significant contemporary jazz musicians — a bassist, composer, and vocalist widely recognised for placing the double bass at the centre of modern jazz expression. His work encompasses a unique blend of jazz, classical, pop, Latin, and Middle Eastern influences, earning him international acclaim, including the prestigious Miles Davis Award presented by the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Raised in a multicultural family with roots spanning Spain, Greece, and Poland, Cohen began his musical journey as a pianist before discovering the bass guitar and the music of Jaco Pastorius, which ultimately led him to the double bass. After moving to New York in the early 1990s, he went through a challenging period that helped shape his distinctive artistic voice.

A major turning point in his career came through his collaboration with Chick Corea. Following this partnership, Cohen became a member of the ensembles Origin and New Trio, establishing himself as both a composer and performer on the international stage. His early albums already showcased a distinctive style that fused Mediterranean and Latin influences with the language of contemporary jazz.

Throughout his career, he has released a series of influential albums and projects, including Gently Disturbed, Aurora, Seven Seas, and Arvoles, as well as numerous orchestral and chamber works that have expanded his musical expression towards classical and symphonic forms. His concerts around the world are renowned for their emotional intensity, improvisational freedom, and strong connection with audiences.

In recent years, Cohen has developed new trio and quintet formations featuring younger musicians, while also collaborating with leading European orchestras such as Metropole Orkest. His latest work continues to bridge generations of musicians and musical genres, maintaining his signature blend of energy, melody, and innovation.

Throughout his career, Avishai Cohen has built bridges between different musical worlds. With his new album ETERNAL CHILD (2026), however, he turns towards his most personal stories. Named after his longtime best friend, the album is a tribute to family, friends, collaborators, and the relationships that shape our lives.

Through his distinctive combination of virtuosity, rhythm, and emotion, Cohen transforms personal connections into music, reminding us that our greatest inspiration often comes from the simplest human relationships.

These stories come vividly to life on stage, where intimacy, energy, and exceptional musicianship create an unforgettable concert experience.

Line-up:
Avishai Cohen – double bass
Itay Simhovich – piano
Eviatar Slivnik – drums

Today, Avishai Cohen is regarded as one of the defining voices of contemporary jazz, whose performances embody a remarkable fusion of virtuosity, emotion, and a powerful musical identity.

Jazzysad is a DJ and producer from the city of Subotica, Serbia. One of the pioneers of electro swing, nu jazz and electro tango sounds in the Balkans. He creates under the influence of 70s jazz and soul music. Jazzysad is a prominent figure at several key festivals and successful radio presenter of Balkan jazz heritage across the globe.

Jazzysad has been a long-standing figure at the Nišville Jazz Festival, particularly as the lead manager of the Midnight Jazzdance Stage and a resident DJ, recognized for his organizational and promotional work, as well as his expertise in curating the Midnight Jazzdance stage.

In 2025. Jazzysad was officially recognized for his role in promoting Balkan jazz and Jazzdance culture. He received special recognition for the promotion of Jazzdance culture and Balkan Jazz in the world. This recognition was awarded at the Nišville Jazz Festival main stage.

The award highlights that his work goes beyond just being a DJ or radio host. He is seen as a crucial figure in:

• Curating and popularizing the jazzdance scene, which is a unique and vibrant part of the Nišville experience.
• Actively promoting Balkan jazz releases and artists through his radio shows and DJ sets, introducing this sound to a wider, international audience.

Jazzysad is an outgoing and experienced Radio Presenter with over ten years’ experience of Jazzysad radio shows across the world. In his radio shows he combines jazz-funk, modal, latin and acid jazz tracks and promotes Balkan jazz releases. Famous for his vibrant personality with passion for giving listeners an enjoyable and engaging experience. Jazzysad radio broadcasts have a global reach across the Balkans, USA, Africa, and most recently in Japan, as the first DJ from Southeastern Europe to broadcast his radio show and being signed by Japanese jazz focused label.

Jazzysad links his musical work with the Serbian wine scene as a regular performer at the "Vinski park" (Wine Park) festival in Sremska Mitrovica, "Wine fest" and "Salon vina" in Novi Sad, where he provides music in the form of his signature blend of jazz-influenced genres to complement the wine and food offerings.

Over the years, Jazzysad has performed with various musicians – Perry Louis, Shuya Okino, Rainer Trueby, DJ Maestro, Lubi Jovanovic, Alex Barck, Mario Biondi, Nicola Conte and many more.

Since 2017, Jazzysad has been a host and promoter of the International Jazz Day celebration in Serbia and Southeastern Europe, focusing his activities on radio shows and live performances.

Bullet for a Badman is an instrumental band from Belgrade whose music can be described as a meeting point between Afro-funk, jazz, and guitar-driven sounds. Dynamic rhythms are combined with distinctive horn themes and guitar riffs, engaging in a constant interplay through solo sections.

To date, the band has released three albums — Mediterranean Leaves, Busola, and VOL 3. The line-up consists of Ivan Simić (guitar), Milan Simić (bass guitar), Dušan Petrović (baritone saxophone, flute), Konstantin Sotirovski (trumpet), Petar Milanović (tenor saxophone, percussion), and Đorđe Petrović (drums).

Milena Casado, whom The New York Times described as a "revelation," is one of the most striking new voices in contemporary jazz. Known for her fluid improvisation and deeply personal compositions, she moves effortlessly between acoustic music and electronic experimentation, blending tradition and innovation.

She was recently recognized by the LA Times as an essential emerging artist keeping the spirit of jazz alive, and WBGO included her among contemporary jazz musicians worth knowing. She has already gained significant attention through collaborations with artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Vijay Iyer, Aaron Parks, Chris Dave, and other key figures on the contemporary music scene, earning widespread critical acclaim. She has performed on some of the world’s most important stages and festivals, including Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, The Kennedy Center, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival, among others.

As an increasingly prominent bandleader, Casado leads her own regular quintet, with which she has appeared at festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazzfest, and other major venues. With this ensemble, she released her debut album Reflection of Another Self on Candid Records.

Reflection of Another Self is an impressive debut album — sonically adventurous and deeply personal, a journey of self-discovery and resilience, and a confrontation with personal trauma. It is a bold statement from an artist who has spent years refining her voice alongside major names and patiently building her path, creating a debut worthy of someone ready to significantly reshape the contemporary jazz landscape.

FUNK SHUI is an eclectic music collective from North Macedonia, driven by an inexhaustible curiosity to explore new directions in musical expression. Since the release of their debut album Aether in 2012, followed by the 2015 release R.E.M. and the 2018 EP Impuls, the band has been continuously evolving, refining its artistic vision and sound. Their music is not easily categorised within a single genre – it is best described as a comprehensive experience that blends a wide range of emotions, styles and influences.

With each new release, FUNK SHUI pushes the boundaries of the contemporary music scene, carving out a unique path and redefining what it means to be an authentic and expressive band in the region. Their work has also been recognised beyond the Balkans, with performances at some of Europe’s most significant music events, including Eurosonic ESNS, Mondo.NYC, MENT Ljubljana, Athens Music Week, PIN Music Conference and Liverpool Sound City.

Among their many achievements, the single Meteori stands out in particular, having been named "Single of the Year 2020" by the regional music portal Balkanrock. Their more recent singles Vetar, Ne Vreme and Magla, accompanied by striking music videos, served as a lead-up to the album Nikogaš Pak, released on 31 March 2023. FUNK SHUI was nominated for the HEMI Music Awards in 2021 and 2023, as well as for INES Talents in 2021 and 2022, further confirming their status as one of the most exciting emerging bands in Europe.

In recent years, the band has been touring extensively across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as numerous regional tours throughout the Balkans. The release of their long-awaited third studio album Nikogaš Pak, featuring well-known singles such as Meteori, Vetar, Ne Vreme and Krik, was met with great public interest. This enthusiasm culminated in two consecutive sold-out concerts in Skopje, a strong testament to their growing popularity and cultural significance.

With an unwavering commitment to musical excellence and innovation, FUNK SHUI continues to win over new audiences and solidify its position as one of the most important contemporary bands in the region.

Ljubomir Turajlija was born on 19 March 1992 in Novi Sad, where, after completing his lower music education at the "Josip Slavenski" School of Music, he enrolled in the "Isidor Bajić" Secondary School of Music. There he won numerous awards at national competitions for classical saxophone. After graduating from secondary music school, in 2011 he enrolled at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where he completed his undergraduate studies in jazz saxophone in 2015.

After returning to Serbia, he completed his postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. In 2019, he became a member of the RTS Big Band, where he has collaborated with many leading figures of the domestic and international jazz scene, including Stjepko Gut, Francesco Santucci, Uroš Perić, Luis Bonilla, Vladimir Kostadinović, Branko Marković, Dragan Milovanović, and many others.

The quartet consisting of Ljubomir Turajlija, Aleksandar Uzelac, Luka Jovičić, and David Gegić brings together musicians educated at jazz academies in Montreal, the Netherlands, and Belgrade, with extensive performing experience and a strong contemporary jazz sensibility.

As the house band of the Novi Sad Jazz Festival, the ensemble creates a continuous jazz atmosphere over three festival evenings at the Apollo Centre through improvisation, interaction with the audience, and the connection of different programme segments.

QuadBones is a unique trombone ensemble in the regional jazz scene, bringing a distinctive and rare festival format built on the powerful sound of trombones, a rhythm section, improvisation, and arrangements inspired by jazz, swing, Latin, and funk styles.

Eight musicians, four trombones, and one energetic, rich, and one-of-a-kind sound will take you through sonic landscapes where harmonies intertwine, phrases complement each other, and improvisation becomes the only way of thinking between the instruments.

Anđela Koruga is a young jazz vocalist from Novi Sad whose artistic expression combines jazz sensibility, soul energy, and contemporary stage interpretation. She is currently studying jazz singing at the Faculty of Music and represents a new generation of vocal performers bringing freshness and authenticity to the local jazz scene. Through performances at concerts and festivals, she has developed a distinctive style based on confident interpretation, strong musicality, and an emotional connection to her repertoire. At this year’s Novi Sad Jazz Festival, she will perform with her quartet.

The Novi Sad-based band "Spare Cats" was formed by former members of the band "Profesorry," which enabled the current rhythm section to come together and continue working and creating music together from the summer of 2024 until today.

Through their original music, characterized by funk grooves, piano jazz chord textures, prominent bass lines, and subtly progressive rock-funk drum rhythms, the band builds a distinctive and authentic sound. A special place in their expression is given to the trumpet as a lead instrument, alongside the saxophone, which further enriches the overall sonic landscape.

All members of the band have extensive performance experience gained through work in various bands and musical genres. The music performed by "Spare Cats" represents a fusion of funk, acid jazz, and rock, with interesting melodic and harmonic solutions.

The band consists of Aleksandar Turukalo on electric bass guitar, Dražen Žigmanović on keyboards, Milan Maksimović on drums, Vasilije Stakić on trumpet, and Nikola Miloradović on saxophone.

Their debut album, "Orchard," was released at the end of October 2025 and features nine compositions written by the band members themselves.

In addition to the tracks from the album "Orchard," the band also performs new material at their live shows, which will be included on their upcoming album, scheduled for release at the end of 2026.

Joe Lovano, Grammy Award winner and one of the most significant saxophonists in contemporary jazz, is known for his uncompromising exploration of new musical expressions. Born in Cleveland in 1952, he studied at Berklee College of Music, where he later received an honorary doctorate, and since 2001 has held the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance. Over a career spanning several decades, Lovano has collaborated with numerous jazz legends, including Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Bill Frisell, Tony Bennett, and many others, while as a leader he has released more than 25 albums for Blue Note Records, as well as a number of recordings for ECM Records.

His music covers a wide spectrum of contemporary jazz expression, from classic quartets to experimental projects, including Trio Tapestry and Sound Prints. Lovano has received numerous awards from DownBeat, JazzTimes, and the Jazz Journalists Association, and his work is regarded as one of the key contributions to the development of modern jazz.

Antonio Faraò, one of the most prominent European jazz pianists of recent decades, is known for his exceptional technique, strong rhythmic sensibility, and distinctive melodic expression. Born in Rome in 1965, he began his career with early recognition on the Italian jazz scene and soon established an international profile through collaborations with artists such as Jack DeJohnette, Chris Potter, Gary Bartz, Billy Cobham, John Patitucci, and many others.

His work is characterized by a blend of emotional expressiveness, harmonic sophistication, and powerful improvisational energy, which has also been recognised by artists such as Herbie Hancock, who has repeatedly praised his outstanding musical talent. Faraò has performed on the world’s most important stages and festivals, including high-profile projects such as International Jazz Day under the patronage of UNESCO.

In the project Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò: Explorations, these two artists meet in a unique musical dialogue that brings together different traditions of contemporary jazz. Their interaction creates space for free improvisation, strong communication, and a deep understanding of musical language.

The rhythm section of the quartet consists of double bassist Ira Coleman, known for his collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, and drummer Jonathan Blake, one of the leading figures of the contemporary jazz scene, who has worked with Tom Harrell, Chris Potter, and Ravi Coltrane.

The Explorations project represents contemporary jazz in its most vibrant form — through the dialogue of top-tier soloists and an ensemble that bridges deep tradition with an openness to new musical directions.

Foltin is a Macedonian band founded in 1995, known for its unique musical expression that blends indie and alternative sound, world music, funk, electro-acoustic elements, jazz, and numerous other influences. Their music is characterised by unpredictability, imagination, and strong emotional depth, which has earned them a distinctive place on the regional and European music scene for decades.

They are especially known for their live performances, which go beyond a conventional concert format and take the shape of a theatrical and cabaret-like stage experience, filled with energy, humour, and interaction with the audience. This aesthetic is also connected to their extensive work in theatre and film music, including the score for Honeyland, a film that won three awards at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for two Academy Awards, as well as the film Secret Ingredient, which received multiple international festival awards.

Throughout their career, they have performed at numerous music and theatre festivals across Europe and the Middle East, building a reputation as one of the most original bands in the region. The line-up consists of Pece Nikolovski (clarinet, harmonica, percussion and effects), Branislav Nikolov (vocals and guitar), Pece Trajkovski – Brada (guitar, accordion, keyboards and percussion), Goce Jovanoski (bass guitar), Slavcho Jovev (drums), and Marjan Stanić (percussion).

Emma Smith is one of the most prominent contemporary jazz vocalists on the British scene, and the recipient of the Parliamentary Jazz Vocalist of the Year award for 2024. She has performed in prestigious concert venues and jazz clubs around the world, collaborating with artists such as Michael Bublé, the Quincy Jones Orchestra, Jeff Goldblum, as well as the Jeremy Pelt / Wayne Escoffery Quintet.

She gained wider recognition as a member of the vocal group The Puppini Sisters, as well as through four years of work on BBC Radio 3 and performances with Ronnie Scott’s All Stars. Following a successful tour with the American ensemble Postmodern Jukebox, she was named Jazz Act of the Year at the 2024 Jools Holland Boisdale Music Awards.

Raised in a family of jazz musicians, Emma Smith was surrounded from early childhood by bebop tradition, harmonies, and jazz improvisation. Her debut album Meshuga Baby achieved millions of streams and significant radio support, while her new album Bitter Orange presents a personal and contemporary approach to jazz vocals, combining elegance, emotion, and a strong artistic voice.

White City Soul is an artistic DJ collective driven by the idea of connecting music with various forms of art and experience. Primarily focused on DJing, they occasionally also engage in producing handmade clothing in collaboration with local designers. As residents of several Belgrade clubs, as well as a crew that regularly ignites dance floors across Europe, they have developed a distinctive and diverse approach to music and event organisation. Their sound is eclectic – ranging from jazz fusion and soul, through disco house, and everything in between.

Daughter Of The Sun (aka Katarina) is a Novi Sad-based DJ, previously known to the audience for techno. Through her project The Daughter Of The Sun presents: Moonlight Sessions (nighttime edition) and Sun-Kissed Grooves (daytime edition), she will reveal her sunnier side through a selection of R’n’B, neo-soul, funk, and other soulful genres, smooth jams, and sensual grooves.

The Bojan Cvetković Quartet is a jazz quartet from Belgrade that performs original music, with an artistic expression ranging from traditional jazz to a more contemporary and energetic sound. The ensemble consists of Bojan Cvetković (piano), Rastko Obradović (saxophone), Boris Šainović (double bass), and Nikola Banović (drums).

The band released its debut album Joy in 2022 for PGP RTS, and over the past years has performed at numerous festivals and concert venues both in Serbia and abroad. Among the most notable appearances are the Jazzinty Festival, Nišville Jazz Festival, Ubud Jazz Festival, and the Novi Sad Jazz Festival, along with many other concert and festival performances.

During 2024, the quartet recorded its second studio album in Cologne, with its release expected in 2026. At the Novi Sad Jazz Festival on 5 July, they will premiere new compositions from the upcoming release.

Tanja Senić is a jazz vocalist with significant experience on the club and concert scene in Novi Sad, Serbia, and the wider region. She is recognised for her high-quality interpretations of jazz standards, her strong musicality, and her collaborations with prominent musicians, including Aleksandar Dujin, the Novi Sad Big Band, and other performers from the domestic jazz scene. At this year’s Novi Sad Jazz Festival, she will perform with her quartet.

Francesca Tandoi is regarded as one of the most prominent and most virtuosic musicians on the contemporary international jazz scene. Thanks to her exceptional musicianship, energy, and brilliant technique, she has gained a large global audience and significant recognition from critics and professionals alike. In recent years, she has performed on some of the most prestigious concert stages and jazz clubs across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States, selling out shows in legendary venues such as Blue Note Milano, Duc des Lombards in Paris, Bimhuis in Amsterdam, and Zig Zag in Berlin.

Her latest album, Bop Web, has been met with great success from both audiences and critics, blending the spirit of bebop and hard bop traditions with a contemporary musical expression. To date, she has appeared on more than twenty recordings, including three albums as the pianist in the quartet of renowned saxophonist Scott Hamilton. Her album Winddance was ranked among the ten best jazz albums of 2017 by the Japanese magazine Jazz Life, which described her as one of the most promising young talents on the European jazz scene.

In addition to her successful performing career, Francesca Tandoi is also a respected professor at a conservatory and has led numerous masterclasses dedicated to jazz and piano at universities and music academies around the world. Her latest release for the Spanish record label Fresh & Sound Records presents an ambitious project that combines her trio with a string quartet, marking another significant step in the artistic development of one of the brightest voices in European jazz today.

Afro Gitano brings together three prominent musicians from different cultural and musical traditions: Macedonian guitarist and composer Toni Kitanovski, known for his work with Cherkezi Orchestra and releases on ENJA Records; Malian musician Baba Sissoko, a master of the tamani and a collaborator with numerous international artists; and DJ and producer DJ Goce, who has performed alongside some of the most important names in the hip-hop scene.

Their music blends African rhythms, Balkan and Romani musical sensibilities, jazz, and contemporary hip-hop, creating a distinctive sound that feels both traditional and modern at the same time. Although each member brings extensive experience and a strong individual artistic voice, Afro Gitano functions as a unified musical project in which diverse influences naturally intertwine.

From film music and contemporary dance productions to festival stages, Afro Gitano delivers powerful energy, a strong groove, and a sound that connects different cultures, genres, and audiences.

Vladimir Kostadinović is widely recognised as one of the leading European jazz drummers of his generation, known for his highly musical approach, refined sense of timing, and strong artistic voice. Born in Serbia and now based in Vienna, he actively performs across Europe, the United States, and Asia. He will appear at the Novi Sad Jazz Festival with his outstanding quartet.

Throughout his career, Kostadinović has received significant awards and excellent reviews from leading international music magazines, including DownBeat, Modern Drummer, and JazzTimes, which have particularly highlighted his compositional voice and distinctive approach to the drums.

One of the most important milestones in his discography is the album IRIS, released in 2025 by the prestigious Dutch record label Criss Cross Jazz, one of the most respected jazz imprints in the world. The album received outstanding international media attention and was included among the Best Jazz Albums of 2025 according to DownBeat magazine, further confirming Kostadinović’s status as a significant voice in contemporary jazz.

Throughout his career, he has collaborated with numerous renowned musicians from the international jazz scene, including legendary vibraphonist Joe Locke, as well as Benny Golson, Chris Potter, George Garzone, Geoffrey Keezer, Kevin Hays, Duško Gojković, Gregory Porter, Alex Sipiagin, Seamus Blake, and Antonio Faraò, among many others.

His playing is characterised by a deep understanding of musical form, exceptional control of dynamics, and an interactive approach that bridges tradition and contemporary jazz expression. As a bandleader and highly regarded collaborator, he continues to perform at major festivals and concert stages around the world.