History

2026

„A Tribute to Gordon Goodwin“ with soloist Tomaž Zevnik: in May at the Mozaik kulture festival (co-organised by JSKD) at Grosuplje Cultural Centre, on 5 June at the Kazina Jazz Club in Ljubljana, and on 10 July at Marezijazz. In October, an arranging workshop with Lojze Krajnčan, „Grosuplje in Autumn“ with Rok Ferengja and choirs, and BBG x Slon in sadež.

2025

Sinatra in Marezige and the traditional Christmas and New Year concert with Manca Fekonja and Blaž Vrbič.

2025

A concert with Gašper Kržmanc and „Images“ with Klara Lavriša and Žan Cesar.

2024

„Flying Start“ with Tadej Tomšič and guests Petra Vidmar, Erik Čebokli and Žiga Kožar; the combo at a U.S. Embassy event; a concert with Gašper Kržmanc.

2023

Sinatra at Ljubljana Castle and at Krka, and the 70th anniversary celebration of the Kekec kindergarten at the Brinje Sports Hall in Grosuplje. „Grosuplje in Autumn“ with Nina Strnad, and a New Year concert with Jure Pukl, Lara Grbić and Maruša Kos.

2022

On 22 April, a concert with Uroš Perić and The Pearlettes reopening the renovated hall of the Grosuplje Cultural Centre; Marezijazz with a Jeff Coffin programme; and Sinatra in Velenje. In December, a Charles Mingus programme with Nina Strnad and Klemen Kotar.

2020–2021

The covid period: occasional combo appearances at openings and protocol events, and Sinatra in Portorož.

2019

Sinatra with Blaž Vrbič in Grosuplje, at Ljubljana Castle, at the Plečnik Auditorium and at ČinČin; in December, a Count Basie and Diane Schuur programme with guest Simone Zanchini.

2018

On 2 February, „Help! A Beatles Tribute“ with the BBG combo; the „Nat King Cole’s 99’“ programme with Peter Savizon in March and April; a concert at the NUK café in June. On 12 August, the Nishville Jazz Festival in Niš (Serbia): Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite on the main Earth & Sky stage, praised by critics Davor Hrvoj and Saša Drach. „Dokler gnar ne skopni“ with the songs of Tom Waits in October, and a Buddy Rich and Paul Anka programme in December.

2017

„The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook“ for the centenary of her birth with Ana Čop: 20 May at KD Grosuplje, 18 August at Jazzinty Novo mesto, 24 August in Idrija. On 29 June, U.S. Independence Day at the Festival Hall; the orchestra’s twentieth anniversary on 15 September at KD Grosuplje and 7 October at Španski borci; and „Crazy Christmas“ with Boštjan Gombač and Gordon Goodwin’s Christmas arrangements on 22 December.

2016

A January–February tour of Austria (Bruck an der Mur, Wiener Neustadt, Graz – Stefaniesaal, Weiz, Knittelfeld, Klagenfurt), concerts in Nova Gorica and Rogaška Slatina, and „Jazz in the Coffin“ with the music of Jeff Coffin on 23 December.

2015

On 2 July, „Songs for Swingin’ Lovers“ (Sinatra and Bennett) for U.S. Independence Day at Križanke; „Ellingtonia“ on 1 December at Španski borci and on 19 December at KD Grosuplje; a tour with Prifarski muzikanti including two concerts at Cankarjev dom; and a concert with Lado Leskovar at the Festival Hall.

2014

A New Year concert of Gordon Goodwin’s music — the orchestra’s first Goodwin programme — with guests Irena Vidic and Tomaž Zevnik.

2013

The Frank Sinatra programme „A Swingin’ Affair“ with Blaž Vrbič, supported by the U.S. Embassy, and a July performance for U.S. Independence Day at the National Gallery.

2012

Concerts with Prifarski muzikanti and jazz education workshops. Klemen Kotar takes the baton in September, and the year closes with a New Year concert with Nina Pušlar.

2010–2011

Two quieter years: on 17 July, a gala concert marking 50 years of jazz at Bled, at the Bled Festival Hall, and the project „Music Unites“ with American singer Gwen Hughes, supported by the U.S. Embassy.

2008

The orchestra’s tenth anniversary and the concert „American Jazz History“.

2007

The charity event „The Golden Key of Grosuplje“ with Alenka Godec, Nina Pušlar and Nuša Derenda, five years of City Park with Oto Pestner, Elda Viler, Anika Horvat and Pepel in kri, a jazz concert and public recording at Studio 14 with Davor Križić and Saša Nestorović, a concert with the American Western Jazz Quartet, the 2nd national big band meeting in Krško, and an autumn tribute to Jože Privšek.

2006

Concerts with vibraphonists Boško Petrović and Vid Jamnik including a public recording and an accompanying workshop, the big band festival in Bjelovar (Croatia), a summer workshop led by Sigi Feigl (Austria), an autumn concert with Nina Pušlar, and the founding of the youth ensemble BiBa.

2005

Collaboration with the Corona male choir, the opening of the Atlantis water park, and the 60th anniversary of Mladinska knjiga with the Levstik Awards in the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev dom. October brings „A Tribute to Frank Sinatra“ for the 90th anniversary of his birth with Oto Pestner and Adam Klemm; in December, the St Nicholas charity concert on TVS.

2004

A CD recording session, the 30th anniversary of the Grosuplje Music School, co-organisation of a workshop with The Kelly Johnson Quartet supported by the U.S. Embassy, and the project „The Music of Glenn Miller and Count Basie“ marking the centenary of both; solo concert on 14 October.

2003

On 24 June, the central Statehood Day ceremony at Trg republike (TVS); on 24 July, Braco Doblekar receives the Golden Emblem of the Municipality of Grosuplje. Also an international summer workshop with Rick Stitzel (USA), a guest appearance in Hirschaid, Germany, Microsoft’s NT conference in Portorož, and the closing ceremony of the Slovenian Film Festival with arrangements by Lojze Krajnčan and guest singer Cita Galič.

2002

Launch events for the Slovenian editions of Windows XP and Office XP at Kolosej, a summer Frank Sinatra programme with Tulio Furlanič along the coast, Glasbena ogrlica on TVS, and Athlete of the Year with Irena Vidic.

2001

Zidak dobre volje broadcast live on TVS1, and a recording session at Studio 14 of Radio Slovenija. In October the ensemble is renamed from Big Band GŠ Grosuplje to Big Band Grosuplje and registered as a cultural association (officially entered on 9 November 2001), joining ZKD Grosuplje. A concert at Cankarjev dom marks ten years of the Slovenian football league; December brings Athlete of the Year on TVS2 and a solo concert at Prešernov trg.

2000

On 21 February, an hour-long concert at the Gajo Jazz Club, recorded by TV Slovenija. On 22 December, Slovenian Athletes 2000 at Cankarjev dom, broadcast live on TVS2.

1999

On 21 December, the 25th anniversary of the Grosuplje Music School with Eva Sršen and Janez Bončina - Benč.

1998

The first summer workshop in Fiesa. The tradition continues: Čatež 1999, Fiesa 2000–01, Kranjska Gora 2004–06, Kobarid 2007.

1997/98

Founded at the Grosuplje Music School. The first solo concert takes place in the school hall on 18 February 1998, followed on 26 June 1998 by the Statehood Day ceremony at Pogačarjev trg in Ljubljana.