Kristijan Krajncan (born 1986 in Kranj, Slovenia) studied violoncello at Music School Vic-Rudnik, Ljubljana, Slovenia with Igor Mitrovic. At the same time he visited High school of Music Ljubljana playing jazz drums with Aleš Rendla and Janez Gabric.
He graduated from jazz drums in 2004 and continued studies at Prins Claus Conservatorium (Groningen, Netherlands) with Owen Hart Jr., Joost van Schaik, Ralph Peterson and Steve Altenberg where he graduated in 2009 with the highest possible grade.
In the last years he won several prizes: 1st Prize in Stressa (Italy, 1996 and 1997), 2nd Prize in Tortone (Italy), 1st Prize in Goriza (Italy, 1997), 3rd Prize in Zagreb (Croatia), 1st Prize of National Competition for young musicians of Slovenia (1997 and 2003). In 2000 he was as a chairman of Slovenia invited to Bergen (Norway) on a meeting of young musicians of Europe. The event was organized by all European RTV centers.
As a drummer he’s participating in several projects; as a leader of his own band playing his original music (KK Contemporary Jazz Ensemble) performing on several important festivals in Slovenia and abroad, as a member of Klee Quartet, big band Stageband, Big Band of Prince Claus Conservatory, Kaja Draksler Acropolis project, Anneguus Teerhuis Trio, Tarek Yamani Trio…
In august 2006 he won 1st prize jury award for best Slovene jazz composition on festival Jazzon. He received his prize from the hands of jury member John Abercrombie, one of the most influential modern guitar players.
In 2007 he was nominated for prestigious prize Harten Aas Trofee as one of the only three students of the conservatory.
In 2008 he spent a semester in New York, studying with world class drummers, such as John Riley, Joey Baron and Richie Morales. Same year he performed with Anneguus Teerhuis trio in the finals of The Dutch Jazz Competition on The North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam).
In 2009 they won YPF Piano Jazz competition (Bimhuis, Amsterdam) and played on numerous festivals and halls, including Bimhuis, where they had a release concert of their record Tarhouse Tales in January, 2010.
In September 2008 he was invited as a drummer and composer to play with Big Band RTV Slovenia on the »Evening of European jazz« led by conductor Lojze Krajncan. Special guests were also Danish legend Mads Vinding and Dutch pianist Anneguus Teerhuis. Concert was broadcasted by all European radio stations as a part of EBU project.
In June and July 2009 he organized a tour and a recording of his first CD as a leader of the KK Contemporary jazz Ensemble, including world-class jazz musicians Jimmy Greene and Ambrose Akinmusire.
In February 2010 he participated in the Dave Douglas Workshop for composers and improvisers at the Carnegie Hall, NY as one of the 11 musicians who were accepted among hundreds.
Besides music he’s also a film director, he won several prizes with his 1st short movie Augenblick(2004). In 2005 he shot another movie (Diskretni šarm ida) and another one in 2006 (Menuet for Umbrella).
