ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Dimitrije Vasiljević is an award-winning jazz pianist and composer based in Richmond, VA, originally hailing from Serbia. His music gracefully bridges the vibrant energy of American jazz with the intricate nuances of European and Balkan jazz. Tony Germain of Berklee College of Music has praised him as “a powerful modern improviser and a strong jazz player with an impressive vocabulary.” Similarly, his compositions are described by All About Jazz as “iridescent and captivating, a cascade of weaving twists and turns.”
In terms of education, Vasiljević boasts Bachelor’s degrees from both Berklee College of Music in Boston and the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. He pursued his Master’s at New York University Steinhardt in New York City and later achieved a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to taking on the mantle of Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, Vasiljević enriched the faculties at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, NYU Steinhardt in New York, and Univeristy of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, IL.
Throughout his career, Vasiljević has graced iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall, the United Nations Headquarters, the Kennedy Center, Montreux Palace, and the Krannert Center. His schedule is consistently filled with performances across the U.S. and Europe, both solo and with his jazz quartet.
Over the years, Vasiljević has achieved a plethora of accolades. Notably, in 2008, he secured both the third jury prize and the audience award at the esteemed Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Competition in Switzerland. The Tesla Science Foundation acknowledged his musical prowess in 2014, by awarding him a Recognition of Achievement for his contribution in promoting the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla through music. His accolade journey continued in 2015 when he became a finalist in the Luminarts Jazz Competition in Chicago and the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship competition. At Berklee, he was honored with the Jazz Performance Award and the Piano Department Achievement Award. Additionally, while at UIUC, he earned the Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship.
In collaboration, Vasiljević has shared stages with jazz virtuosos such as Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Charles “Chip” McNeill, Marko Djordjevic and Brad Shepik. With four leading albums to his credit, his recent endeavor, Accidental Nomad, garnered attention, representing Ropeadope Records in four categories at the 2019 Grammy Award Nominations.
Beyond his commendable performance and teaching career, Vasiljević exhibits prowess in film score composition, boasting scores for awarded European documentaries like There Has to Be More Than This, Reconciliation, and Tierra Utopia. Vasiljević also dedicated five years as a faculty member for the Blue Mountain Festival summer music camps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Currently associated with Ropeadope Records as a recording artist and Eastlight Artist Management, he persistently dazzles audiences in both the U.S. and Europe.
QUOTES ABOUT DIMITRIJE VASILJEVIĆ
"Iridescent and captivating. A cascade of weaving twists and turns." - Chris Slawecki (All About Jazz)
"Astonishing virtuosity, unique personality and straight to your heart sensibility. Dimitrije has it all and is a new force to reckon with. I am a fan." - Jean-Michel Pilc
"Dimitrije's music occupies a unique space somewhere between the classical piano tradition and jazz. Whatever you want to label this music, it's beautiful, full of bright melodies and strong rhythms, and his command over the piano is astounding." - Chris Potter
"Possessing tremendous command and control of the piano, Dimitrije Vasiljevic has forged a strong, unique and personal musical identity. His dark and brooding compositions come off as highly personal and emotive, and he shows great musicality and maturity in his playing. Dimitrije is definitely a contemporary pianist to watch out for!" - Martin Bejerano
"Dimitrije is a rare example of a musician whose qualities - sensibility, virtuosity, harmonic and melodic invention - all converge towards the same point: a music of deep and rewarding beauty. His latest CD is a brilliant demonstration of music making at the highest level." - Jean-Michel Pilc
"Imaginative, harmonically intriguing music that centers around personal grooves. Expressive, emotionally charged compositions in which modern jazz meets the music of the Balkans. Tight, attentive interplay within the quartet. Congratulations, very nice, heartfelt music!"- Laszlo Gardony
"Dimitrije's debut recording, "The Path of Silvan" features brilliantly balanced, intricate writing and pithy solos throughout; a compelling and vibrant musical vision." - Brad Shepik
"Dimitrije captures the heart of Serbia with a jazz soul. His compositions are thoughtful and personal and his playing evokes his great respect for the masters"- Andy Milne
“Dimitrije Vasiljevic has lots of wonderful musical energies and his enthusiasm is boundless.” - JoAnne Brackeen
“Dimitrije is a strong modern player with an impressive vocabulary. A powerful modern improviser, shows promise that he will be a new voice in modern jazz.”- Tony Germain (Piano Department at Berklee College of Music, Boston)