The Romanian Cultural Institute in New York presents the US premiere of ENESCU re-IMAGINED, by Lucian Ban & John Hebert, featuring Mat Maneri - viola, Joyce Hammann – violin, Tony Malaby - tenor & soprano saxophone, Taylor Ho Bynum - trumpet, Lucian Ban – piano, Badal Roy – tablas, John Hebert – double bass, Gerald Cleaver – drums.
A unique ensemble, featuring some of the world most renowned musicians, working at the crossroads between jazz, classical and contemporary music, and led by pianist Lucian Ban, presents the music of famed Romanian composer George Enescu in a stunning new light.
Conceived as a workshop group in 2006 by Romanian born, NYC based pianist Lucian Ban, the project evolved today in a 8-piece ensemble, featuring some of the world most renowned musicians, that blends the music of George Enescu with jazz and contemporary music. Working at the edge of classical, jazz, downtown improv and contemporary music, the ensemble re-interprets and re-orchestrates scores from George Enescu's impressive body of work – from the famous "Impressions from Childhood" piano-violin sonatas to the various chamber pieces and the larger orchestral works of this amazing 20th century Romanian composer. Although his music is largely present on the classical stages today, re-interpretations from a contemporary jazz angle of his music have never happened till now.
The concert marks the US premiere of this work, which immediately follows its world premiere at the Enescu Festival in Bucharest, Romania, on September 20, 2009.
"I have come to truly discover and fall in love with Enescu's music long after I moved from Romania to New York City to study at Mannes School of Music, one of US universities where Enescu regularly taught," says pianist and composer Lucian Ban. "I've found that many of Enescu's works, some of which are lesser known, have a structure resembling that of jazz; this was the starting point for wanting to present his music in a new light, together with an ensemble featuring some of the most daring musicians."
TUE, October 20, 2009, 8 pm
MERKIN CONCERT HALL
at Kaufman Center, Goodman House, 129 West 67th St.,
New York, NY 10023
Admission: $18; Students, Seniors: $12. To purchase tickets call 212-501-3330 or http://www.merkinconcerthall.org/
