08/09/2025
Mirabella player is on tour .
Ratko Zjaca - Award Winning Guitarist / Performer / Composer / Recording Artist / Educator, with many critically acclaimed recordings
Ratko Zjaca is a visionary jazz guitarist, composer, and improviser whose music transcends genre boundaries. With a career spanning continents and collaborations with some of the world’s most respected musicians, Zjaca has established himself as a bold and expressive voice in contemporary jazz.
Born in Croatia and trained in both classical and jazz traditions, Zjaca developed a unique musical language that draws from modern jazz harmony, European classical influences, Indian music and global rhythmic traditions. His improvisations are fluid and adventurous, marked by deep emotion, harmonic sophistication, and fearless exploration.
Over the years, Zjaca has released a series of acclaimed albums as a leader, including Touching minds, A day in Manhattan, Crossing the Border, The Way We Talk, Continental Talk, Life on Earth , Archtop Avenue and many others.
His diverse collaborations include iconic artists such as John Patitucci, Steve Gadd, Reggie Workman,Al Foster, Miroslav Vitous, Adam Nussbaum, Simone Zanchini, Randy Brecker , Trilok Gurtu, John Riley , Antonio Sanchez, Marius Preda and others , reflecting his deep versatility and international appeal.
His coming recent project, Touching Minds, is a powerful recording featuring percussion legend Trilok Gurtu and virtuoso cimbalom player Marius Preda. The album showcases Zjaca’s ability to unite jazz improvisation with world music textures, producing a sound that is both contemporary and timeless.
A dedicated composer, Zjaca writes music that challenges conventions while remaining deeply lyrical and emotionally resonant. His work often features unusual forms, intricate rhythmic interplay, and rich harmonic colors, creating a wide canvas for spontaneous interaction and expression.
Ratko Zjaca continues to tour internationally, teach masterclasses and working on many new projects.
Ratko performs usinga Mirabella Jazz Moderne and Crossfire Custom handmade by Cris Mirabella.
www.ratkozjaca.com