Jazz With a Message: Jure Pukl

Jure Pukl Leads a Powerful Night at Studio 44

Concert Review – June 14, 2025 | Krško, Slovenia

Studio 44 in Krško, Slovenia—a vibrant concert space operating under the umbrella of Big Band Krško—has quietly become one of the country’s most consistent jazz venues. Since 2017, the series Jazz at Studio 44 has hosted over 100 concerts, known for their spontaneity, sincerity, and the adventurous pairing of guest soloists with the big band’s rhythm section, comprised largely of students from leading European jazz academies. Rehearsals are often held the very day of the performance, resulting in raw, responsive music-making that values communication and presence over polish.

On Saturday, June 14, Studio 44 welcomed internationally recognized Slovenian saxophonist Jure Pukl to lead the evening. A compelling voice in contemporary jazz and a deeply expressive bandleader, Pukl brought not only his formidable saxophone artistry but also a program marked by emotional depth and social awareness. The quartet featured Samo
Hude on piano, Peter Smrdel on bass, and Jakob Avsenak on drums—young players who rose admirably to the occasion.

A Tribute Through Music

The set opened with Bad Year – Good Year, a composition from Pukl’s album Doubtless. From the first notes of the theme, played with poised intensity on tenor saxophone, it was clear that Pukl’s leadership was both musical and spiritual. His phrasing and dynamic nuance guided the ensemble with authority and openness—no small feat, given that the quartet had only just formed that day.

Before continuing, Pukl addressed the audience with a personal dedication: the concert was offered in memory of Croatian jazz pianist Matija Dedić, a close collaborator and friend, who had passed away just a week earlier. Switching to soprano saxophone, Pukl performed Dedić’s ballad Family, which they had recorded together on their 2016 album Hybrid. The
performance was deeply emotional—its fragile sincerity moved both artist and audience to tears.

This tribute continued with Where Are You Coming From and Where Are You Going?, another piece from Hybrid. Drawing on Pukl’s classical background, the rubato opening created a space of introspection, soon morphing into a vamp in 9/4 time. Smrdel’s unaccompanied bass solo transitioned seamlessly into this section, and Pukl responded with rhythmically daring lines that reflected his command of both freedom and form. From Afro-Cuban Playfulness to Political Resonance.

The mood then shifted with a refreshing take on Wayne Shorter’s Edda, whose Afro-Cuban groove and swinging B section gave the quartet room to stretch out. The chemistry between the musicians became increasingly apparent as the set progressed—a testament to their listening and adaptability.

Pukl returned to tenor saxophone for three compositions from his 2019 album Broken Circles, a project rooted in political and social commentary. Separation, written in response to the family separations at the U.S.–Mexico border during the Trump administration, set a heavy tone. Built around a shifting motive and a slow, deliberate beat, the tune created a powerful sense of disquiet. Samo Hude’s comping and solo work here stood out—thoughtful, patient, and perfectly attuned to the piece’s emotional core. Pukl’s subsequent solo was deeply soulful, extending the narrative. The ballad Compassion followed, with Pukl’s tenor tone revealing his lyrical side. Before playing, he commented that compassion is what society needs most—and that true change begins with the individual. That message set the stage for the concert’s closer: Triumph of Society, an anthemic piece delivered with urgency and conviction. Pukl’s bold sound and sharply articulated phrases conveyed the tune’s message with clarity. Trading solos with pianist Hude in decreasing phrase lengths (16, 8, 4 bars), he built tension and energy, paving the way for an explosive drum solo by Jakob Avsenak. The young drummer rose to the moment with command and creativity, proving himself a compelling voice in the dynamic close of the concert.

More Than Music

This wasn’t just a night of compelling improvisation and high-level jazz performance—it was a night that reminded us of jazz’s deeper function as a language of truth. Jure Pukl and assembled group delivered a performance of emotional gravity, musical risk, and social consciousness. The audience at Studio 44 didn’t just hear great music—they experienced a
call for empathy, resilience, and awareness. And in that sense, Jazz at Studio 44 once again fulfilled its mission: to present music that is as immediate and meaningful as the times we live in.