"Trust us; this kind of night only happens once every three centuries” - Stacey Anderson, Village Voice NY

“ Top Live Show ! . . . by a scary-good group . . . Both orchestrators look far afield . . . Indian percussionist Badal Roy shifts momentum even farther east. Overall, the chamber-jazz expressionism of, say, Jimmy Giuffre will hold sway, even when drummer Gerald Cleaver kicks the volume level beyond ruminative territory." - K. Leander Williams, TONY

An all star group featuring some of the world most renowned jazz musicians, working at the cross line between jazz, classical, and contemporary music.

“Enescu Re-Imagined” presents a unique concept & ensemble that presents the music of famed Romanian composer George Enesco in a stunning new light.

More than a century after Romanian composer George Enesco was first introduced to European audiences, pianist Lucian Ban, together with renowned jazz bassist John Hebert, takes on Enesco’s music legacy in this daring contemporary jazz re-imagination of some of his unique works for a stunning group of New York jazz iconoclasts.

A famous composer, an even more famous violinist, a conductor and pianist George Enesco was one of the most unique musicians of the past 20th century, one whose influence spans both Europe and America and countless musicians and fellow composers. His most renowned pupil, the great violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin calls him “the greatest musician I have ever known” and would often speak, prophetically about the 21st century as “The Century of Enesco”.

Conceived as a workshop in 2006 by Romanian born, NYC based jazz pianist & composer Lucian Ban, the project evolved today in an 8 piece ensemble that blends the music of George Enesco with jazz and contemporary music. Working at the edge of classical, jazz, downtown improv and contemporary music, the ensemble re-orchestrates and re-interprets scores from George Enesco’s impressive body of work – from the famous 3rd Sonata for Violin & Piano in Romanian Folk Character to the unfinished 4th Symphony to the various chamber pieces and the larger orchestral works of this amazing 20th century Romanian composer. Although his music is present on the classical stages today, it was never, so far, been re-interpreted from a contemporary jazz angle.

The Octet features some of the most “forward thinking musicians that push the music into the new millennium”: master violist and a Grammy nominee Mat Maneri, the New York Times “contemporary master saxophonist” Tony Malaby, virtuoso modern master trumpet player Ralph Alessi, virtuoso violinist Albrecht Maurer, “Down Beat winner bassist” John Hebert and visionary drummer Nasheet Waits. Add to this line-up the foremost exponent of tabla in jazz music, the legendary Badal Roy, a collaborator of legends like Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Yoko Ono and you’re sure to witness an unlike anything you’ve ever heard performance. ”I have come to truly discover and fall in love with Enesco’s music long after I moved from Romania to New York City to study at Mannes School of Music, one of the US universities where Enescu regularly taught,” says pianist and composer Lucian Ban. “I’ve found that many of Enesco’s works, some of which are lesser known, have a structure and a feeling resembling that of jazz; this was the startingpoint for wanting to present his music in a new light, together with an ensemble featuring some of the most daring musicians of today.“Working at the edge of classical, jazz, downtown improv and contemporary music, the ensemble reorchestrates and re-interprets scores from George Enesco’s impressive body of work – from the famous “3rd Sonata for Violin & Piano in Romanian Folk Character” to the unfinished “4th Symphony” to the various chamber pieces and the larger orchestral works of this amazing 20th century Romanian composer.