Serbian flautist and composer Milena Jancuric graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and classical music performance from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade (initially attracted to classical music compositions), however the interest and appreciation for jazz has offered Milena the opportunity to take more creative control of her music through concepts such as free improvisation, various arrangements and ensembles. She built her professional music education studying and working with established musicians such as Matt Marvuglio, Danilo Perez, Scott Free, Ljubiša Jovanović, Marco Pignataro, Fernando Brandao, Mitch Haupers, performing on stages in the USA, Panama, France, Italy, Israel, Germany, Serbia and Croatia. Also, She also had a prominent role in numerous concerts and projects as soloist or ensemble member collaborating with various musical groups such as Tomoko Ozawa Quintet, Yabuno/Ettun Project, Gaia Petrelli Willmer Octet, Women of the World, Aleksandar Dujin Orchestra, New Now Trio, Lazar Novkov & Frame Orchestra, Nevena Reljin, The Ana Ćurčin, Sanja Markovic Quintet, Ehud Ettun. Since 2016 she has been collaborating with the Internal Compass Institute in Jerusalem and Mitzpe Ramon in Israel.
Far from the technological revolution, the new work of the superb Serbian flautist Milena Jancuric moves towards modern jazz enveloping the listener with splendid original embroideries close to the sounds of the European indie scene full of conceptual, structured and elaborated meanings with clear African-American influences. With an engaging approach, free from superstructures and conditioning, Milena expresses a new and fascinating blend with psychedelic traces and a thousand shades of color and tone that are felt by embracing sophisticated harmonies and a veiled experimental spirit. The music of this intense project evokes rapidly changing scenes, has a vast breadth that that moves effortlessly between different punctuations leading its melodic lines with dry clarity, overall outlining an image of rigorous structural substance. "Shapes and Stories" is imbued not only with a profound knowledge of the possibilities of the instrument but also with an extraordinary awareness and knowledge of the jazz lexicon, it is a project that aims to lyrical intensity imprinted by the close interplay between the partners masterfully playing airy and iridescent compositions while taking listeners on an incredible journey of jaw-dropping treble, poignant moments of reflection and treasured intimacy, delivering something completely distinctive and unique. A marvel of jazz contemporary, between avant-garde and mysterious notes, "Shapes and Stories" is an album that demonstrates the immeasurable talent of Milena Jancuric, of her world-class skills as an interpreter, producer and composer of the project.