Mikan Zlatkovich

Ben Wanicur

Monday, January 15, 2024

12 PM

Born a musical prodigy in former Yugoslavia, Mikan Zlatkovich started his professional jazz career as a teenager whose immense talent was quickly recognized by top musicians, audiences, and music critics alike.

Throughout the '80s he remained a major feature on the thriving Yugoslav jazz scene. In the early '90s, however, he decided to pursue bigger musical challenges, at first in New York, and ten years later in San Diego, where he regularly shares the stage with the likes of Gilbert Castellanos, Charles McPherson, Allison Adams-Tucker, Chuck McPherson, Bob Magnusson, Rob Thorsen, Jamie Shadowlight, and many other notable performers.

Mikan's father, a local jazz guitarist, exposed him very early on to jazz. The father and son would use an old German-made Grundig reel-to-reel recorder to tape jazz tracks and then play them back at half speed.

This allowed them to observe and analyze in microscopic detail the delicate structure, the subtle nuances, and solos of artists such as Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery, McCoy Tyner, Joe Pass, Chick Korea, Joe Zawinul, or indeed the legendary Oscar Peterson to whom Mikan is often compared.

On piano or synthesizer, Mikan's fiery performances continue to thrill and excite his audiences. He connects jazz fans in many different settings, from concert halls to small clubs to street corners. His musical chemistry and his remarkable skills captivate and welcome his audience into his music, offering an exciting and memorable jazz experience.

No two performances can ever be the same. Mikan's music is always evolving through his never-ending search for new creative possibilities.

Mikan is a natural jazz ambassador. He always presents himself with class and dignity and interacts with his audiences and his musicians with great passion and professional integrity.

He deeply understands the power of music to transcend all language, race, and cultural barriers and to present a common ground where people of any age, race, or culture can enjoy and share the magic of jazz.

Ben Wanicur started playing the bass when he was 18 years old. He wanted to play drums in the high school jazz band, but there were too many drummers and zero bassists. He took home the school electric bass for the summer and he has not looked back since. He has worked professionally in Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and many other places in between. You can currently catch him at local venues in sunny San Diego most often.

Free concerts at noon every Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.

Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.