Lucian Ban

Lucian Ban is a Romanian-born pianist who draws upon European classical music, Transylvanian folk, and modern post-bop jazz. Based in New York since 1999, he issued his U.S. debut, Somethin' Holy, in 2002. He released the celebrated Playground with his Asymmetry ensemble in 2006, and The Romanian-American Jazz Suite with saxophonist Sam Newsome. Ban and violist Mat Maneri initially worked as a duo on Transylvanian Concert for ECM in 2013. 2016 saw the issue of Songs from Afar by Lucian Ban's Elevation. 2017's Sounding Tears was recorded with Maneri and saxophonist Evan Parker. In 2020, Ban, John Surman, and Maneri issued Transylvanian Folk Song. Ban followed with the solo piano Ways of Disappearing in 2023. He also serves in Maneri's quartet. In 2024, he and Maneri released the live Transylvanian Dance on ECM.