Home » Jazz Musicians » Marko Djordjevic

Marko Djordjevic

Called a “world class drummer” and “a true inovator” by Modern Drummer magazine, Marko Djordjevic has played on over 40 albums and has thousands of live performances to his credit. Matt Garrison, Wayne Krantz, Jonah Smith, Clarence Spady, Lucky Peterson, Jacques Schwartz-Bart, Garry Willis, Hal Crook, Bill Frisell, Lionel Loueke, Aaron Goldberg, The Itals, Chris McDermott, and Eric Lewis are some of the artist he has performed or recorded with since graduating with honors from Berklee College of Music, where he was accepted on a scholarship at the tender age of 16.

One of the finest musicians of our era, Blue Note recording artist Lionel Loueke says: “Marko is one of the greatest drummers out there. He possesses incredible technique, and a musical mind to match it! I love playing with him because he is so creative and unique!”

For over ten years SVETI has been the creative outlet for one of the most impressive and innovative drummers in the world today, the Serbian born Marko Djordjevic. As the composer for SVETI, Marko writes music inspired by the rich musical tradition of his Balkan roots, with a nod to the “western” artists that have influenced him, from Coltrane and Weather Report to Zappa and the Police.

The evolution of the group’s sound is documented on two Benito Records releases, the self-titled debut, SVETI, and the 2001 follow up, Live Kolach.

The working group, in different formations from trio to septet, featuring Brad Mason (trumpet), Eli Degibri (sax), Nir Felder (guitar), Elliot Mason (trombone), Aaron Goldberg (piano) and Matt Pavolka (bass), is currently touring in support of the new album, entitled ‘Where I Come From’, released by Firma Video Entertainment.

Given the above mentioned talent, no wonder Phil Di Pietro of Allaboutjazz proclaims “SVETI is a group of absolutely monster musicians.”

Gear

A level endorser of Mapex, Zildjian, Evans and Vic Firth.

Marko Djordjevic & Sveti: Something Beautiful

Read "Something Beautiful" reviewed by John Ephland

by John Ephland
June 1, 2014

Drop the “needle" down anywhere on Something Beautiful and you're likely to find ... something beautiful. There's some hidden spirit that carries this music along from track to track as drummer/composer Marko Djordjevic takes his merry band of four (when it's not a trio) through 12 hearty originals, all of them Djordjevic's. After listening to two new ones from Jimmy Cobb and Louis Hayes, “Heart Bop" hearkens back to those rough-and-ready days, in a sense setting the stage ...

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt 3 or 4 at Spike Hill NYC Feat. Ole Mathisen & Marko Djordjevic

Source: Michael Ricci
June 13, 2010

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt 3 or 4 at Nublu NYC Feat. Ole Mathisen & Marko Djordjevic

Source: Michael Ricci
June 12, 2010

Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt 3 or 4 at Spike Hill NYC Feat. Tim Luntzel & Marko Djordjevic

Source: Michael Ricci
February 18, 2010

Labeled “Impressive and Intense" by Time Out NY, “Groundbreaking" by Jazz Review and “Inimitable" by PM NYC/Paper Magazine, NYC virtuoso guitar phenom Sten Hostfalt's 3 or 4 featuring Grammy award-winning bassist Tim Luntzel, serbian-american drumming star Marko Djordjevic and Sten Hostfalt on guitar/composition appears live in concert at Spike Hill. Monday March 1, 2010 at 8.30pm one set only / no cover, no minimum. 184 Beford Ave. Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY 11221 spikehill.com * L train to ...
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Performance / Tour

Marko Djordjevic's Sveti Featuring Sten Hostfalt at Nublu on October 9

Source: All About Jazz
October 6, 2008

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt / Matt Renzi / Marko Djordjevic Bowery Poetry Club, Feb 25

Source: All About Jazz
February 22, 2008

LIVE at THE BOWERY POETRY CLUB, NYC Monday, FEBRUARY 25 2008 at 9 pm $8 cover Sten Hostfalt - Guitar, Compositions Matt Renzi - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet Marko Djordjevic - Drums “Renzi is Ready for Prime Time" - JAZZIZ Magazine “Djordjevic is a Drumming Star" - MODERN DRUMMER “Hostfalt May be Considered Groundbreaking"- JAZZ REVIEW
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Performance / Tour

Marko Djordjevic, Janek Gwizdala, Sten Hostfalt Live NYC July 16

Source: All About Jazz
July 15, 2007

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Event

Marko Djordjevic DVD Release Event Thursday July 12th at The Drummers Collective

Source: All About Jazz
July 9, 2007

Marko Djordjevic's first DVD, Where I Come From, is out on Firma Video Entertainment Inc. A DVD release event will be held at the Drummers Collective this Thursday, July 12, at 7 PM. The format is a performance - master class, which means there will be music played and techniques demonstrated, along with some Q and A. Mr. Djordjevic will be joined by the amazing Janek Gwizdala on bass.

Thursday July 12th 7:00 PM Drummers Collective ...
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Performance / Tour

Marko Djordjevic, Bato the Yugo, Sten Hostfalt @ Village Ma in NYC on July 2

Source: All About Jazz
June 30, 2007

MARKO Djordjevic + BATO the Yugo + STEN Hostfalt @ VILLAGE MA Monday NYC JULY 2 at 10 pm / no cover * 107 Macdougal st. (btw Bleecker/West 3d) NYC MARKO DJORDJEVIC - drums BATO THE YUGO - guitar STEN HOSTFALT> - guitar “Marko Djordjevic is a drumming star" - Modern Drummer “Bato the Yugo ups the ante... wildly ambitious... editor's pick" - Time Out NY “Sten Hostfalt may be ...
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Performance / Tour

Marko Djordjevic's Sveti Featuring Sten Hostfalt Live, NYC April 2

Source: All About Jazz
March 31, 2007

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Performance / Tour

Marko Djordjevic's Sveti Tonight in NYC, Feb 26 2007

Source: All About Jazz
February 26, 2007

It's one thing to be a brilliant drummer, with impeccable time and phenomenal technique; it's another to be one that can compose and arrange with the best of them. Marko does exactly that on his cd entitled WHERE I COME FROM. On top of it all, he surrounds himself with the finest talent, creating a musical juggernaut that breaks all boundaries. It's music steeped in tradition yet entirely original! Gonzalo Silva, Metronom Magazine

Drummer Marko Djordjevic has written a very beautiful ballad in "Don't Be Sad." The melody is a simple plea. The playing is virtuosic. Sveti produces a compelling sound. Jazz.com

There is something magical in the way they play, something that pulls you all the way into the music. Quim Cabeza, Bateria Total, Spain

This album by the Serbian virtuoso and his group Sveti invites us on a musical odyssey. Rich in rhythm, color, texture and melody has already won praise from critics in the US. A great musician is inviting you in - feel free to enter! Philippe Legare, Batteur magazine, France

Marko is a world class drummer and composer. He is one of the best and perhaps the most stylistically original drummer in contemporary music today. This CD shows Marko's prowess as a hard swinging jazz player, a master of odd metered folkloric music, an amazing soloist and a truly original composer. Buy this CD! You may just hear the shape of things to come in modern drumming. Lucas Pickford, bassist extraordinaire

Marko's dvd "Where I Come From" is a MUST SEE for all drummers, regardless of their level and stylistic background. It is REALLY MUSICAL and ALL ABOUT THE JOY OF PLAYING DRUMS!! Gregg Bissonette

Marko is an outstanding and innovative musician. This video is a must have for anybody that takes drumming seriously. Antonio Sanchez A very advanced dvd from a superb drummer from Serbia. Discover him immediately - A STAR IS AMONG US! Philipe Legare, Batteur Magazin, France

World class drummer Marko Djordjevic's dvd is intimate, sincere and educational. The high quality of information and outsdanding performances make it a dvd from which much can be learned once it has been properly digested. Mike Haid, Modern Drummer He certainly has his own sound as a drummer and is very musically minded. This all comes across very well in what is one of the best drumming DVDs I have seen in a while. I enjoyed everything about this DVD and think everyone should know about Marko. He plays the drums beautifully and makes you want to get better and to top it off he seems like a really nice guy too. Some guys have it all and he’s one of them. Get it! Chris Persiva, mikedolbear.com England’s premier drumming website

Question: How does one reconcile musicality and stunning technique? The answer: All the indispensable technical advice on this dvd is given from a tremendously musical perspective. Between chapters there are magical performances of the music Marko wrote for his band Sveti. Quim Cabeza, Bateria Total, Spain

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Credentials/Background

Member of faculty at the Drummers Collective in NYC Also teaching privately in NYC.

Clinic/Workshop Information

A composer and band leader as well as a drummer, capable of directing a clinic into a wide range of topics, from drum tecnique specifics, to discussions about harmony, band interplay, improvisation, compositional issues, etc. Check out clinic footage at http://www.vicfirth.com/artists/marko_djordjevic.html under the heading PASIC CLINIC 2008