"Deceased Neven Franches, composer and one of the most prominent jazz musicians

Neven Frangeš, one of Croatia's most prominent figures in music, has died in Zagreb at the age of 75. The death was confirmed by the Croatian Music Union, which described him as a composer, jazz pianist, keyboardist, organist, educator, and music producer who played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s jazz scene. He passed away on August 10, 2026, after a long illness. Born in Zagreb on January 8, 1951, Frangeš studied composition and music theory at the Zagreb Academy of Music, graduating with distinction. His early exposure to jazz came through his collaboration with the legendary vibraphonist Boško Petrović, with whom he performed for the first time at just 14 years old. This experience proved decisive in defining both his artistic and professional trajectory. Throughout his career, Frangeš worked alongside numerous notable Croatian and international jazz musicians, including Boško Petrović, Damir Dičić, Mario Mavrin, Elvis Stanić, Miljenko Prohaska, and American artists such as Art Farmer, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Martin Drew, Ernie Wilkins, Toots Thielemans, Lou Donaldson, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, and Bob Mover. His discography includes a large number of records and CDs, many recorded in collaboration with Petrović. Notable albums include Sarabanda, From Moscow to L.A., and Un Chien Andalou, all recorded as a duo with Petrović, as well as Zvira voda, dedicated to Croatian musical heritage. The latter received the Josip Slavenski award. Beyond jazz, Frangeš made a significant impact on Croatia’s rock scene. As an arranger and collaborator, he contributed to key albums by Dragutin Mlinarec, including Rođenje, Sve je u redu, and Negdje postoji netko. He also worked extensively with the band Parni Valjak on albums that won multiple Porin awards. In addition to rock, he collaborated with Croatian classical musicians throughout his career. As a composer, Frangeš wrote music for over a hundred theatrical performances directed by some of Croatia’s most renowned directors, including Georgij Paro, Božidar Violić, Vlado Habunek, Dino Radojević, Joško Juvančić, Ivica Kunčević, and Želimir Mesarić. He composed scores for feature films, television dramas, documentaries, and animated films. His connection with the Dubrovnik Summer Games began in 1972, when he participated as a student. At that time, he worked with the group “Pozdravi” led by Ivo Boban and took part in the play Kristofor Kolumbo by Miroslav Krleža, directed by Georgij Paro, performing the stage music composed by Pero Gotovac. These experiences marked his further artistic development and permanently linked him to the Dubrovnik Summer Games. Over more than three decades, he worked as a composer, performer, producer, and organizer of the music program at the games. From 2005 to 2009, he served as director of the music program at the Dubrovnik Summer Games. Among his most notable works for the games were compositions for the plays Držićev san directed by Ivo Boban, Romeo and Juliet, and the anthology play Tužna Jele, both directed by Ivica Kunčević. From 2011 to 2014, Frangeš was the artistic director of the International Jazz School of the Croatian Music Union and the Jazz Is Back! festival in Grožnjan. A long-time educator, he left a lasting mark on the training of young musicians and held the position of regular professor at the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Arts. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Frangeš actively contributed to shaping Croatian musical life. He was one of the founders of Scene Amadeo in Zagreb and a member of the cultural councils of the City of Zagreb and the Ministry of Culture. He also chaired the board of the Porin Award and served as chairman of the jazz committee of the Status Award. He was a long-standing active member of the Croatian Music Union, serving on its Main Board and Presidency, as well as on the boards of Unison and the Office for Music Export. For his artistic contributions, Frangeš received numerous accolades. He was awarded three Porin Awards in the jazz category, multiple Status Awards for best jazz pianist, and the Josip Slavenski award. Through his artistic, educational, and organizational work, he left a lasting and indelible mark on Croatian musical culture.