Bojan Z wins European jazz prize

Born in Belgrade, Bojan Zulfikarpasic now lives in Paris after having studied with Clare Fischer in Michigan and in Paris at the CIM Academy. A recording artist for the French Label Bleu record company Bojan Z recorded his first solo album in 2001. A year later he was granted the title of Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government and the Prix Django Reinhardt for Musician of the Year from the French Academie of Jazz. Bojan Z will receive his prize in December at the Viennese club Porgy and Bess where he will perform a special concert. The Austrian Music Office has also announced that its Austrian musician of the year is saxophonist Harry Sokal, newcomer of the year is pianist Martin Reiter, sideman of the year bassist Hans Strasser while the CD of the year is Linda Sharrock's Confessions. A New York stipendium goes to trumpeter Bastian Stein and saxophonist Christof Auer.