Sourcing ideas from the lineage of the visionaries of 20th-century music, the Miha Gantar trio describes itself as the next step in the development of the jazz trio format. Defined by its adventurous attitude to music-making, the group embraces the progressive ideals rooted in the history of jazz and modernism and seeks to push them forward, allowing new sonic realities to emerge with each performance. With a deeply personal approach to composition and sound, Gantar presents his vision of the trio of the future.

Miha Guštin – Gušti is a Slovenian guitarist, songwriter, and composer, born in 1971 in Ljubljana. He began his music career with Big Foot Mama and later released his solo album Dolce Vita with Polona Kasal in 2002. He contributed to the soundtrack for the film Nika and the series Naša mala klinika. He is married to Chantal Van Mourik, and his son Kris plays in Joker Out. In 2024, he celebrated 40 years in music with a new album and a concert at Križanke.

Mihael Hrustelj is one of Slovenia’s top guitar masters, blending classical guitar with jazz, progressive rock, and traditional music. His unique style and use of South Slavic heritage make him recognizable worldwide. After a decade in the Netherlands, where he studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory, he returned to Slovenia, drawing inspiration from its nature. He has released six solo albums and performed across Europe and Asia, including with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra.

Mike Vale is a DJ and music producer releasing on some of the most sought-after labels in the genre, including Undr The Radr (Sanchez), Strictly Rhythm, Glasgow Underground and Toolroom (Mark Knight), and playing DJ sets all around Europe, the US and Asia. Mike Vale’s potential has repeatedly been recognised on Beatport. His releases are supported by some of the biggest tastemakers in the business, including Jamie Jones, Marco Carola and Carl Cox, as well as featuring regularly on BBC Radio 1.

Pianist and composer Milan Stanisavljević graduated from the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. After completing his classical training, Milan undertook jazz studies and graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, where he also obtained a master’s degree. He leads his own band.

In addition to writing for different chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras, composer and multi-instrumentalist Milko Lazar regularly scores music for film, as well as dance, multi-media and theatrical productions.

Member of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, violinist Miloš Simić is a conceptual postmodernist who develops his artistic style by playing with music. His expression derives from classical music – transcending its boundaries and then again re-entering its domains.

Step into the dynamic world of Mind Tree, a trio of exceptionally talented Slovenian musicians forging a unique sound at the crossroads of jazz, classical, and alternative genres. Rooted in collaboration, Mind Tree is comprised of pianist Matic Štemberger, bassist Peter Smrdel and drummer Žiga Smrdel. In April 2023, they unveiled their debut album, 'Catharsis,' a captivating journey through original compositions that not only received local acclaim at the Jazzon competition but also secured international recognition, winning the '7 Virtual Jazz Club' award for the best original composition.

Bosnian-Slovenian vocalist Mirna Bogdanović, who fled war at age two, is a prominent figure in the Berlin scene. An emotive songwriter and Downbeat award-winning vocalist, she blends jazz, electronics, and pop. Her 2021 debut Confrontation won the Deutscher Jazzpreis for “Debut Album of the Year.” Her 2023 sophomore album Awake, produced by Chris Hyson, won “Album of the Year” at the Deutscher Jazzpreis. Mirna’s group, formed in 2019, features acclaimed musicians and showcases her unique sound.

Miro Saje is a conductor and former trumpeter, a graduate of the Academy of Music in Ljubljana and the conservatory in Tilburg. He has led several wind orchestras, achieving numerous national and international successes. He has been awarded multiple times as best conductor. He is the artistic director of several orchestras, educates young conductors, and is an active member of the Slovenian Band Association, serving as president of its Artistic Council.