“It is well known that baritone guitarist Buleshkaj possesses a merciless virtuosisty..."
- Bart Cornand, Knack
Artan Buleshkaj, born in Istog (Kosovo) in 1993, is a guitarist and composer based in Ghent (Belgium). He is active in a myriad of projects in and outside of the bubbling music scene of the city, in a broad musical spectrum ranging from pop to (freely) improvised music.
Artan studied at the conservatories of Ghent (with Hans van Oost) and Amsterdam (Martijn van Iterson).
" The fascinating guitar playing of the extraordinarily talented Buleshkaj...."
-Dick Hovenga, Written in Music
Artan was nominated in 2016 for the SABAM Young Jazz Talent Award and was a finalist of the B-Jazz International Jazz Contest (ed. 2015) with his jazz trio Ruis. He was also featured in The Future is Now, a concert series by the acclaimed Brussels Jazz Orchestra, featuring young solists.
Besides regular concerts in Belgium (in venues ranging from small jazz clubs to festivals), Artan also regularly plays/tours abroad. His music has already brought him to Japan, the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany and France.
"The guitarist, Artan Buleshkaj, transgresses the limitations set by genres such as folk, jazz, electronic music, ...."
-Jean-Claude Vantroyen, Le Soir
In addition to his work and ample discography as a sideman, Artan is currently focussing on his project Frontier People. This is a quintet co-led by Artan and fellow guitarist Thomas Decock. Their full-length album is set for release in spring 2027 on W.E.R.F. Records. To celebrate the launch, the band will embark on a JazzLab tour, performing at prominent concert venues across Flanders.
Past releases/projects as leader:
Click here for a long form/more detailed version of this biography (in English).
Klik hier voor een gedetailleerdere versie van deze biografie (Nederlands).