ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
DIMITRIJE VASILJEVIC is a New Orleans based, award-winning jazz pianist and composer who has been hailed as “a strong jazz player with an impressive vocabulary and a powerful modern improviser who shows promise that he will be a new voice in modern jazz” (Tony Germain – Berklee College of Music). His music, “iridescent and captivating, a cascade of weaving twists and turns” (All About Jazz), represents an innovative combination of the gentle flavor of European jazz with intricate musical landscapes full of exotic rhythms and sophisticated harmony.
Vasiljević got his Bachelor Degrees both from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia, his Master’s degree from NYU Steinhardt in New York City and his doctorate (DMA) from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before he accepted the position of a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans in 2017, he taught jazz piano at both NYU Steinhardt in NYC and UIUC in Urbana, IL.
Vasiljević has performed concerts at such renowned venues as Carnegie Hall (NYC), United Nations Headquarters (NYC), Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), Krannert Center (Urbana, IL). He performs extensively throughout the United States and Europe, both as a solo pianist and with his own jazz trio/quartet/quintet. In 2008 he won third jury prize and the audience prize at the world renowned Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Competition in Switzerland, and in 2014, Tesla Science Foundation in New York City, awarded him with a Recognition of Achievement for his contribution in promoting the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla through Music. In 2015, Vasiljević was a finalist of both Luminarts Jazz Competition in Chicago and the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship competition. During his time at Berklee, he received the Jazz Performance Award and the Piano Department Achievement Award, and while working on his doctorate at UIUC, he received Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship. He has performed with renowned jazz artists such as Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Charles “Chip” McNeill, Tito Carrillo, Victor Garcia, Marko Djordjevic, Klemens Marktl and Brad Shepik, among others.
In addition to his composing/performing and teaching careers, Vasiljević also scores music for films (There Has to Be More Than This; Tierra Utopia), and is one of the founding members of Music Defying Boundaries, American nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging individuals with experimental and improvised music through education, performance, and documentation. For 5 years, he was also on the faculty of Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival summer camps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Vasiljević is a Ropeadope Records artist and a member of Jazz Education Network (JEN).
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)