Lucian Ban

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Lucian Ban

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Img_capt =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Instrument = piano, keyboard
Genre = jazz,
URL = [http://www.lucianban.com/ www.lucianban.com]

Biography

Raised in the tiny farming village of Teaca, (Transylvania, Romania), Ban grew up listening to folk songs performed at weddings, birthdays, holidays and other celebrations.

At age seven, Ban moved to Cluj-Napoca, where he started classical piano and composition training.

Citation
last = West
first = Jason
title = Lucian Ban: Transylvania's Rhapsody in Blue
date = 2007-12-18
url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=27657
accessdate = 2008-04-30 .

He studied composition at Bucharest Music Academy from 1992 to 1995. He establishes the group Jazz Unit in 1995 and releases two albums as a leader for the green records label in Romania. cite web
url= http://www.lucianban.com/html/about.php
title= Lucian Ban - Biography
accessdate=2008-04-23
format= HTML
work=

In 1999 he moves to New York where he studies for two years at New School University. His American debut recording “Somethin" Holy” in duet with bari sax Alex Harding was awarded 4 stars by All Music Guide, and was followed by the critically praised quintet album "Premonition” (2003), "Tuba Project" (feat. Bob Stewart, 2006) and "Playground" (feat Jorge Sylvester, 2006).

The Lumination Ensemble co-lead with Alex Harding and featuring drum legend Barry Altschul was nominated “One of the 10 best shows of 2003” by All About Jazz. Since then he has played/recorded with: Alex Harding, Reggie Nicholson, Art Baron, Sam Newsome, Barry Altschul, Jorge Sylvester, Brad Jones, Bruce Williams, Damion Reid, Chris Dahlgren, Pheeroan AkLaff, J.D.Allen, Bruce Cox, Hill Greene, Carlo DeRosa, Curtis Fowlkes, Mark Helias, Gene Jackson, Ron Horton, Nasheet Waits, Bob Stewart, Gerald Cleaver (musician), Derrek Phillips, and many more.

Honors and Awards

2006 – Nominated for the 2nd time for the “Best European Jazz Musician” by the Hans Koller Foundation and the Austrian Government.
2005 – 2006, Music Curator for Kavehaz Jazz Club, NYC.
2005 – Original Score for the play “Philosopher Fox” nominated for both Outstanding Sound Design and Best Score at the New York Innovative Theatre Awards.
2005 – Nominated for the “Best European Jazz Musician” by the Hans Koller Foundation in Austria.
2003 – album “Something Holy” by Lucian Ban & Alex Harding Duet Awarded 4* Stars by All Music Guide.
2003 – Ensemble Lumination co-lead by Lucian Ban & Alex Harding and featuring drum legend BarryAltschul voted “One of the Best Shows of 2003” by All About Jazz Magazine NYC.2000 – The theater show “Azi ma Ubu ” after Alfred Jarry wins the Great Prize at the Bucharest Humoror Theatre Festival in Bucharest, Romania.
1999 – the album “From now on” by Lucian Ban wins the “Best Jazz Album of 1999” in Romania.
cite web
url= http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/list.asp?from_cal=0&sdate=2/16/2007
title= corneliastreetcafe.com
accessdate=2008-04-23
format= HTML
work= Performances / 16.Feb.07

Performance

PERFORMANCE2006 - release as a leader of the album “Tuba Project” for the US Cimp Records featuring the acclaimed tuba virtuoso player Bob Stewart.
2006 – release at Jazz Standard Club in NYC as a leader of Asymmetry Quartet the album “Playground” for the Norwegian Jazzaway Records.
2006 – release as a pianist member of renowned bari sax player Alex Harding Blutopia Group “TheCalling” at Jazz Standard, NYC.
2005 – 3 week tour with Blutopia throughout Romania with the support of the US Embassy CulturalServices.
2002 - present, various tours in Europe with Sam Newsome, Hill Greene, Derrek Phillips, Carlo DeRosa, Bruce Cox, Alex Harding, Cristian Soleanu, Alex Harding, etc.
2001 – 2006, hundred concerts with various projects throughout NYC metropolitan area at such venues as Jazz Standard, Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club at Lincoln Center, Jazz Gallery, Kavehaz, Cornelia Café, etc, and yearly European tours as leader and co-leader of various jazz ensembles.
1994 – 1999 founder of the Jazz Unit, one of the most important jazz Ensembles of the Romanian 90’ scene. Performances & Tours throughout Romania and Europe
cite web
url= http://stuff.lucianban.com/about/pdf/Lucian_Ban_full_BIO.pdf
title= lucianban.com
accessdate=2008-04-23
format= PDF
work= Lucian Ban's Press Kit

External links

* [http://www.lucianban.com Lucian Ban - the official site]
* [http://2z.ro/page.php?n01=01&n02=05&n03=03 Discography]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotro/2422035876/in/set-72157604591896670/ Photo: Lucian Ban Apr. 2008]