In Retrospect
2004

“...Very impressive!”

~ Jose Rizo, Host of “Jazz On The Latin Side”, KKJZ 88.1

“Beautiful music are the only sounds I have ever heard Damjan make!”

~ Danilo Lozano, Flutist, producer, and college professor

"Flutist Damjan Krajacic debuts with a five-piece band that includes Joey de Leon, Cokie Garcia, Serge Kasimoff and Rigoberto A. Lopez on the CD In Retrospect, co- produced by Danilo Lozano. The repertoire was authored by Krajacic, with the exception of a couple of tunes composed by Miles Davis and Chick Corea, and it grooves from beginning to end. "

~ Latin Beat Magazine, April '05, By Nelson Rodriguez

El impresionante debut en solitario del flautista/compositor/arreglista Damjan Krajacic--nativo de Croacia con domicilio en California y discípulo prodigioso del ilustre Danilo Lozano (quien figura aqui como coproductor del disco)--contiene siete temas originales y un par de estándares interpretados por el sexteto angelino del joven flautista, cuyo liricismo melódico contrasta eficazmente con la sensibilidad rítmica del bajista exiliado Rigoberto A. López (ex-cómplice de Adalberto Alvarez y Frank Emilio Flynn), las hermosas armonias pianísticas del camarada Sergei Kasimoff (alias "El Ruso Maravilloso"), el vigor pintoresco del baterista habanero Conrado "Coky" García (antiguo acompanante de Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Emiliano Salvador, Osmany Paredes, etc.) y la versatilidad percusiva de José "Joey" de León (oriundo de Spanish Harlem y graduado de la prestigiosa Manhattan School of Music). Resulta evidente que la energía interactiva de los antedichos elementos garantiza el logro de la combinación apropiada de sabor y swing que se necesita para incursionar en el territorio cubano/caribeño del jazz latino. Pero hay otro factor significativo, en lo que se refiere a la universalidad del género híbrido, que ha sido identificado por el profesor Lozano: "Este disco representa un símbolo de la inclusión del Latin jazz ... que un croata pueda participar e inclusive contribuir matices importantes en este género".

~ Latin Beat Magazine, June/July '05, By Luis Tamargo

“...Damjan expresses himself with extreme ease, successfully builds his own style defined by the immediacy, intensity, quality and sophistication of sound, gentle, warm and rounded sonority, clean intonation, likeable and fluid phrasing, sophisticated alterations between softness and forcefulness, lyricism, and persistence within the melodic structure. He is strong and powerful in fast tempos, while in slower ones achieves an impressive and introverted lyricism. His improvisations are inspired, lively and refined...”

~ Cantus Magazine, 2005, By Ivica Zupan“

Damjan is gifted with great technique and tone but it is his rhythm and understanding of style that drives his playing and inspires his fellow players. His smoking interaction with hand-picked Cuban all-stars on his solo record, In Retrospect, demonstrates what an exciting addition to the scene he is.”

~ Eldad Tarmu, vibraphonist and composer

“Damjan's recording blends European sensibilities with Cuban fire: a great recipe for food and music alike!”

~ Paul De Castro, pianist, composer, and college professor