Welcoming Hristijan Risteski to the Roster

Jazzmedia & More is pleased to welcome saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Hristijan Risteski to its roster, ahead of the release of his debut album Waters Dance on October 2nd, 2026.

Originally from Ohrid, North Macedonia, and based in Graz, Austria, Risteski has spent the past several years building an active presence in the European jazz scene — performing across jazz, classical and cross-genre contexts, and drawing on a dual training in both classical clarinet performance and jazz saxophone at the Kunstuniversität Graz. That background gives his work a distinctive profile: compositionally structured, technically grounded, and open to the kind of cross-cultural dialogue that characterises the best of contemporary European jazz.

Waters Dance is the opening statement of a long-term artistic project. Recorded in October 2025 at ArteSuono Studio in Udine with Grammy Award-winning sound engineer Stefano Amerio, the album features Risteski’s Quartet — pianist Marko Churnchetz, double bassist Hrvoje Kralj, and drummer Chris Smith — in a recording that reflects the group’s identity as a working band. The music integrates contemporary European jazz, traces of Balkan rhythmic tradition, and a compositional approach rooted in the classical canon. The result is a record with a strong individual voice and a clear sense of direction.

The release unfolds in three stages. A preview track and music video will be released in May 2026, followed by a second single and video in September. The complete album drops on October 2nd on vinyl, CD and all streaming platforms. A programme of concerts and European festival appearances will run alongside, taking the music to audiences across the continent through the second half of the year.

The partnership with Hristijan is a strong fit for Jazzmedia & More. His cross-cultural background, the depth of the Waters Dance project, and his approach to building a career on his own artistic terms are consistent with the kind of work we take on. We look forward to supporting the campaign across media outreach, press, and live promotion as the album finds its audience in the months ahead.

Full information about Hristijan Risteski and Waters Dance is available on his artist page.