Biography
A pianist born in Romania, Lucian Ban integrates European classical traditions, Transylvanian folk sources, and contemporary post-bop jazz. Since establishing residence in New York in 1999, he put out his first American recording, Somethin' Holy, during 2002. With his Asymmetry ensemble he brought forth the acclaimed Playground in 2006, while The Romanian-American Jazz Suite appeared alongside saxophonist Sam Newsome. Ban and violist Mat Maneri began their partnership as a duo with Transylvanian Concert, issued by ECM in 2013. Lucian Ban's Elevation brought out Songs from Afar in 2016. Sounding Tears, captured in 2017, united him with Maneri and saxophonist Evan Parker. Ban, John Surman, and Maneri together released Transylvanian Folk Song in 2020. He next delivered the solo-piano album Ways of Disappearing in 2023. The following year Ban and Maneri returned with the live recording Transylvanian Dance on ECM.
Ban entered the world in 1969 in Romania and spent his childhood in the rural farming village of Teaca in northwest Transylvania. During those early years he cultivated an affinity for both traditional Romanian folk music and classical repertoire. At roughly age seven his family relocated to Cluj, where he began formal piano and composition studies. His abilities advanced through adolescence as jazz entered his awareness. Following secondary school he refined his craft through composition coursework at the Bucharest Music Academy and simultaneously directed his own Jazz Unit ensemble. With that group he cut two albums for Romania's Green Records, among them 1999's From Now On, which earned Romania's Best Jazz Album award.
Ban moved to New York City in 1999 as well and pursued additional training at the New School. In the years since his arrival he has forged extensive jazz associations, collaborating with musicians such as Gerald Cleaver, Nasheet Waits, Pheeroan akLaff, and J.D. Allen. As a bandleader he introduced himself to American audiences via 2002's Somethin' Holy, featuring saxophonist Alex Harding. Ban and Harding also founded the Lumination Ensemble, which performed regularly throughout New York. Subsequent releases earned further notice, among them 2003's Premonition and 2006's Playground with the Asymmetry ensemble. In the year that followed he joined saxophonist Sam Newsome for The Romanian-American Jazz Suite.
He worked with bassist/arranger John Hébert in 2010 to reinterpret the music of Romanian composer George Enescu on Enesco Re-Imagined. That same year he began a duo association with violinist Mat Maneri, resulting in the 2013 ECM album Transylvanian Concert. Also in 2013 he issued the quartet recording Mystery on Sunnyside alongside Hébert, saxophonist Abraham Burton, and drummer Eric McPherson. The identical lineup supported 2016's Songs from Afar, which included guest contributions from Maneri and vocalist Gavril Tarmure. Ban then joined Maneri and saxophonist Evan Parker for the 2017 trio date Sounding Tears on Clean Feed.
Ban and clarinetist Alex Simu honored Jimmy Giuffre with the 2019 duo album Free Fall. Two years afterward he issued the solo-piano recording Ways of Disappearing on Sunnyside. Oedipe Redux, released in 2023 with Maneri, drew inspiration from George Enescu's opera Oedipe. The duo reconvened the next year for Transylvanian Dance on ECM.
Ban entered the world in 1969 in Romania and spent his childhood in the rural farming village of Teaca in northwest Transylvania. During those early years he cultivated an affinity for both traditional Romanian folk music and classical repertoire. At roughly age seven his family relocated to Cluj, where he began formal piano and composition studies. His abilities advanced through adolescence as jazz entered his awareness. Following secondary school he refined his craft through composition coursework at the Bucharest Music Academy and simultaneously directed his own Jazz Unit ensemble. With that group he cut two albums for Romania's Green Records, among them 1999's From Now On, which earned Romania's Best Jazz Album award.
Ban moved to New York City in 1999 as well and pursued additional training at the New School. In the years since his arrival he has forged extensive jazz associations, collaborating with musicians such as Gerald Cleaver, Nasheet Waits, Pheeroan akLaff, and J.D. Allen. As a bandleader he introduced himself to American audiences via 2002's Somethin' Holy, featuring saxophonist Alex Harding. Ban and Harding also founded the Lumination Ensemble, which performed regularly throughout New York. Subsequent releases earned further notice, among them 2003's Premonition and 2006's Playground with the Asymmetry ensemble. In the year that followed he joined saxophonist Sam Newsome for The Romanian-American Jazz Suite.
He worked with bassist/arranger John Hébert in 2010 to reinterpret the music of Romanian composer George Enescu on Enesco Re-Imagined. That same year he began a duo association with violinist Mat Maneri, resulting in the 2013 ECM album Transylvanian Concert. Also in 2013 he issued the quartet recording Mystery on Sunnyside alongside Hébert, saxophonist Abraham Burton, and drummer Eric McPherson. The identical lineup supported 2016's Songs from Afar, which included guest contributions from Maneri and vocalist Gavril Tarmure. Ban then joined Maneri and saxophonist Evan Parker for the 2017 trio date Sounding Tears on Clean Feed.
Ban and clarinetist Alex Simu honored Jimmy Giuffre with the 2019 duo album Free Fall. Two years afterward he issued the solo-piano recording Ways of Disappearing on Sunnyside. Oedipe Redux, released in 2023 with Maneri, drew inspiration from George Enescu's opera Oedipe. The duo reconvened the next year for Transylvanian Dance on ECM.
Albums
Blutopia
2024
Oedipe Redux
2023
Ways of Disappearing
2022
Blacksalt
2021
Transylvanian Folk Songs
2020
Dark Blue
2019
Free Fall
2019
Sounding Tears
2017
Fantasm
2015
The Romanian - American Jazz Suite
2008
Live
