Ban plays with a fluency and sensibility that recalls Vladimir Horowitz as much as McCoy Tyner” Terrell Holmes, All About Jazz
“Influenced by the music of Ellington, Monk, Abdullah Ibrahim and Randy Weston, in addition of the rich folk music of his native country, Lucian Ban has blossomed onto a highly regarded jazz pianist and composer” Jason West, Jazz Steps, Seattle
“Ban’s tasteful, reflective piano playing combines the elegance and technical precision of the European classical tradition with wide-ranging musical interests and a passion for improvisation” Jeff Stockton, jazz critic...
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Ban plays with a fluency and sensibility that recalls Vladimir Horowitz as much as McCoy Tyner” Terrell Holmes, All About Jazz
“Influenced by the music of Ellington, Monk, Abdullah Ibrahim and Randy Weston, in addition of the rich folk music of his native country, Lucian Ban has blossomed onto a highly regarded jazz pianist and composer” Jason West, Jazz Steps, Seattle
“Ban’s tasteful, reflective piano playing combines the elegance and technical precision of the European classical tradition with wide-ranging musical interests and a passion for improvisation” Jeff Stockton, jazz critic
“Like Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner and other vanguard bandleaders of that era, the Romanian born pianist composer Lucian Ban alongside intense saxophonist Abraham Burton alongside bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson favor searching post bop that cranes toward the avant-garde without losing the buoyance of swing” TimeOut, New York
Founded in New York in 2007 by pianist Lucian Ban and saxophonist Abraham Burton the powerhouse quartet ELEVATION presents four of the most creative jazz musicians today working at the forefront of contemporary jazz. The NYC based band epitomizes new jazz at its best, music that reinvents the idiom, a sound flux that grows out of the great jazz tradition but looks into the future. Elevation has established itself as a unique voice in the world of jazz. ”The group has taken elements of modern jazz and the avant-garde, employing musicians who have been movers in both, creating an original direction”, wrote JazzInside
Songs from Afar, the new album of the quartet is to be released in the fall 2015 on Sunnyside Records. Opus Jazz Club is proud to be one of the stations on the group’s European CD release tour, November 10-22, 2015. The new album features the core quartet of Transylvanian expat, NYC based pianist Lucian Ban and saxophonist Abraham Burton, and one of today’s best working rhythm sections in jazz – John Hebert (bass) and Eric McPherson (drums), adding special guest and Grammy nominee violist Mat Maneri on several tracks and the Transylvanian traditional singer Gavril Tarmure singing with the band two ancient songs from Transylvania. Six other original compositions and a solo piano tribute to South African master pianist Abdullah Ibrahim round up a stunning body of music for the new Elevation CD.
Lucian Ban was raised in a small village in northwest Transylvania, in the region where Bartók did his most extensive research and collecting of folk songs and grew up listening to both traditional and classical music. He studied composition at the Bucharest Music Academy while simultaneously leading his own jazz groups. His approach to improvisation has been influenced by the profound musical contributions of Romanian modern classical composers like Aurel Stroe, Anatol Vieru and of course Enesco. Desire to get closer to the source of jazz brought him to the US, and his ensembles have included many of New York’s finest players. Twice nominated in 2005 & 2006 for the Hans Koller “Best European Jazz Musician Preis“ Award, Ban currently lives in New York City where is part of the next generation of performers & composers at the forefront of contemporary modern jazz. Lucian Ban has performed/recorded with among others: Alex Harding, Barry Altschul, Gerald Cleaver, Bob Stewart, Badal Roy, Tony Malaby, Mark Helias, Sam Newsome, Art Baron, Curtis Fowlkes, Nasheet Waits, Pheeroan AkLaff, Reggie Nicholson, Drew Gress, J.D. Allen, Abraham Burton, Chris Dahlgren, Brad Jones, John Hebert,and Eric McPherson, among many others.
lucianban.com
abrahamburtonjazz.com
johnhebert.com
ericmcpherson.com
Tickets are available for 1500 HUF on the spot, in the national JEGYPONT network of Interticket, at jegy.hu and here.
Please don't forget your table reservation, as seating at the Opus jazz Club can only be guaranteed in this case.
Tel: (+36 1) 216 7894
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