Alex Harding & Blutopia feat Lucian Ban at Interferences Festival at Teatrul Maghiar

BLUTOPIA was founded in 2003 by one of the most esteemed baritone saxophonists in modern jazz - mr Alex Harding. He invited Transylvanian born pianist Lucian Ban as a creative partner on the new ensemble that went on to feature some of the best jazz musicians in New York. Mr. Harding is widely considered one of the most original bari sax players today and is constantly voted in the best category in the Down Beat Magazine. Mr. Lucian Ban has released 7 albums as a leader in US & Europe and was just nominated for “Best European Jazz Musician “by the Hans Koller Organization in Austria.
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BLUTOPIA was founded in 2003 by one of the most esteemed baritone saxophonists in modern jazz - mr Alex Harding. He invited Transylvanian born pianist Lucian Ban as a creative partner on the new ensemble that went on to feature some of the best jazz musicians in New York. Mr. Harding is widely considered one of the most original bari sax players today and is constantly voted in the best category in the Down Beat Magazine. Mr. Lucian Ban has released 7 albums as a leader in US & Europe and was just nominated for “Best European Jazz Musician “by the Hans Koller Organization in Austria.

The creative partnership between saxist alex harding and pianist lucian ban has sparked several acclaimed groups, including the lumination quintet – a group that was voted “One of the best 10 shows of 2003” by All About Jazz Magazine NYC. The pair has also released two albums together as a duet and quintet – albums that won top lists and extraordinary rewievs.

Benefiting immensely from mr. alex harding’s experience and his soulful and bluesy sound the group also feature the pianistic expertise and strange eastern european influences of mr. lucian ban’s piano, the strong concept and lines of veteran bassist chris dahlgren and the creative rhythms of a master of modern jazz drumming, Mr. john betch.

Pulsating blues, new orleans riffs, post bop lines, funk grooves and free jazz outbursts can be found in their music but the sound of the group goes well beyond all those to become a voice of its own. playing original music the four musicians have to in the words of esteemed nyc critic bruce gallanter “be seen and heard ” to get the full picture.

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