Damirov Django Group

Damirov Django Group, a band that has continued performing under a new name following the premature passing of its founder Damir Kukuruzović, will take the stage at Barone Fortress as part of the Barone Jazz Festival on July 18.

Damir Kukuruzović, a jazz guitarist, recipient of numerous music awards and the most prominent Croatian representative of Django Reinhardt’s music, passed away suddenly in December 2020, leaving behind a rich musical legacy and the Django Group he founded in 2005. Since then, the band has been an essential part of all major festivals in Croatia and abroad, while Kukuruzović himself was regarded as a virtuoso guitarist who, in addition to exceptional technical skill, achieved the highest artistic standards.

He and his band collaborated with some of today’s greatest virtuoso musicians, including Stochelo Rosenberg, Robin Nolan, Angelo Debarre, Raphael Fays, Ludovic Beier, Paulus Schäfer, Wawau Adler, Yorgui Loeffler, Joscho Stephan, Gismo Graf, Sinan Alimanović, Adrian Burns and many others. Notably, Robin Nolan, Gismo Graf, Sinan Alimanović and Paulus Schäfer appeared as guests on their final album “Smile”, released in August 2021.

Earlier releases include the album “Green Hill Gypsy Swing” with the legendary Angelo Debarre, “Mnouche” with Ludovic Beier, “My Django Family” with Wawau Adler and Vlatko Stefanovski, and in 2019 they released a CD and vinyl with Zoran Predin titled “Zoran pjeva Arsena”, produced by violinist Bruno Urlić, with guest appearance by the late Matija Dedić.

Following Kukuruzović’s passing, the ensemble has continued to perform across Croatia and internationally under the leadership of Bruno Urlić, the violinist who co-founded the band with him in 2005, now performing under the name Damirov Django Group.

On the Barone Fortress stage, the group will feature Bruno Urlić on violin, Juraj Markač on guitar, Petar Ćulibrk on piano, Miroslav Čehajić on guitar, Robin Knežević on bass guitar, and Goran Brebrić on snare drum.

TICKETS:
Tickets priced at €13 are available online and at the box office of the House of Arts Arsen. Members of the Friends Club receive a 30% discount when purchasing at the box office upon presentation of a valid membership card.