On June 1, starting at 8 pm, in the Kolarac Concert Hall, the RTS Big Band and pianist Claus Raible will take you on an unforgettable jazz journey. This is an artist who has performed with the RTS Big Band several times. Now we will present him in a completely new way. In addition to his masterful piano playing skills, by which the Belgrade audience remembers him, Raible will also be signing arrangements of all the compositions that will be performed. A mixture of original compositions and carefully selected rare Bebop standards will be the backbone of the program of this concert.

Tickets on sale at a promo price of 900 dinars at the box office of Kolarac’s endowment.

„Claus Raible is at a new height of his prowess. The mixture of elegance and nonchalance is inimitable. Thus, Claus Raible stands very high in the global ranking of the best pianists.“ Dr. Tobias Böcker (Birdland, Neuburg)

Claus Raible has developed a highly personal style and his original arrangements convey a freshness and vibrancy that is appreciated by all generations of jazz enthusiasts. Claus holds a special place among contemporary piano players as well a position of esteem from many acclaimed jazz masters.

In addition to his engagements as a highly sought after pianist in various ensembles, Claus has regularly engaged in forming extraordinary projects both in Europe and the USA, working with line ups that have varied from quartets to sextets, octets to full jazz orchestras. Each of his projects have received popular and critical acclaim for their energy, musical intelligence and originality.

An arranger in great demand Claus has been working in comission for prestigious orchestras such as the Al Porcino Big Band, The Brad Leali Jazz Orchestra, Jesse Davis Big Band, The State Big Band of Mongolia, The U.S. Navy Commodores.

Over the last two decades, he has performed with jazz greats such as Jimmy Cobb, Charles Davis, Andy Bey, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, Herb Geller, Benny Golson, Dennis Irvin, Mark Murphy, Lewis Nash, Ed Thigpen.

Radio Television of Serbia Big Band is the only professional jazz ensemble in Serbia. Since it’s founding in 1954., the ensemble has colaborated with the most famous domestic and foreign artists.

Eminent conductors, composers and arrangers: Mladen Bobi Gutesa, Vojislav Bubisa Simic, Zvonimir Skerl, Dusko Gojkovic and Stjepko Gut were leding the orchestra for many years. Throughout the years the orchestra recived exceptional awards and recognitions. Orchestra won the first prize at the Jazz Festival in Juan Les Pins in 1960. After it’s first tour in 1957., the orchestra was performing at the worlds most famous festivals (Tel Aviv, Montrael, Marseille, Thesaloniki, Munchen), and at a few UNICEF concerts (Belgrade, Paris, Geneve) and always with exceptional succes and praiseworthy reviews.

Over the years, the world’s biggest names of jazz music such as: Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, Maynard Ferguson, Tony Scott, Jerome Richardson, Ernie Wilkins, Alvin Queen, Reggie Johnson, Eddie Henderson, Hank Mobley, Jon Hendricks, Roy Hargrove, Brad Leali, Diane Schuur, Don Menza, Steve Turre, Ronnie Cuber, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Chuck Findley, Bobby Shew, Ack Van Rooyen, Peter Herbolzheimer, Ed Thigpen, Philly Jo Jones, Sal Nistico, Nathan Davis, Don Byas, Larry Vuckovich, Lee Konitz, Heinz von Hermann, Kenny Drew, Aladár Pege, Vic Vogel, Karlheinz Miklin, Adrian Mears, Peter King, Christoph Lauer, Erling Kroner, Ilja Reijngoud, Bert Joris, Gregory Hutchinson, Jens Winter, Jesse Davis, John Fedchock, Andrea Tofanelli, Simon Rigter, Samuel Blaser,… and also the worlds show business stars Ray Charles, Danny Kaye, Josephina Baker, Mireille Mathieu, Enrico Macias, Anni-Frid Lyngstad (ABBA) and others performed with the orchestra.

RTS Big Band has made numerous studio albums, as well as permanent recordings fot the sound archive of Radio Belgrade.