Damjan Grbac – double bass
Marko First – violin, sopela, mih
Aldo Foško – bass clarinet
Tonči Grabušić – drums

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The project by the quirky name of GIIPUJA, which stands for (translated from Croatian) Music of Istra and the Croatian Littoral in Jazz Arrangements, has been bringing modern jazz with a distinct ethno flavour to Croatian audiences since 2013.

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The peculiar line-up, consisting of double bass, drums, bass clarinet, violin and various traditional instruments from the Istra region, combines traditional and modern instruments which, with the absence of usual harmonic layers, make for a strikingly original and unique sound.  Their repertoire is an amalgam of original compositions, traditional Istrian tunes and the ones written by other composers who championed this particular musical idiom. At times, they embrace harsh dissonance, fueled by the interplay of narrow intervals characteristic for the Istrian scale, whilst at other times they succeed in creating a jubilant atmosphere using the same compositional and improvisational principles.

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The quartet does not function in a traditional manner – each instrument has its own autonomy and importance which radiates at various points during the performance. The end result is a striking synergy of tradition and modernity.

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The Forest GIIPUJA project has been released on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Comcast, and has also been featured in the programming of dJazzTV—a globally broadcast television network. Countries where the program is available include France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Bolivia, Indonesia, Mexico, Suriname, and the United States...

Numerous performances across Croatia, along with GIIPUJA’s appearance at the Budapest Music Center—including a concert at their Opus Jazz Club—and their participation in the prestigious Sile Jazz Festival in Mogliano, the 'Musica sulle Bocche' jazz festival in Sardinia, and the Rossetum Jazz Festival in Milan, undoubtedly represent the pinnacle of the project’s activities. In addition to these accomplishments, the project also organized and carried out 100 performances at wells throughout Croatia, showcasing its commitment to engaging local communities and celebrating cultural heritage.