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. In 2024, he and Maneri released the live Transylvanian Dance on ECM Born in 1969 in Romania, Ban was raised in the rural farming village of Teaca in northwest Transylvania. Growing up, he developed a love of traditional Romanian folk, as well as classical music. Around age seven, he moved with his family to Cluj, where he started taking piano and composition lessons. He progressed throughout his teen years, discovering jazz along the way. After high school, he honed his skills studying composition at the Bucharest Music Academy. He also began leading his own Jazz Unit ensemble, with whom he recorded two albums on Romania's Green Records, including 1999's From Now On, which won Best Jazz Album in Romania. Also in 1999, Ban relocated to New York City, where he further studied at the New School. Since moving, he has made deep jazz connections, playing with artists like Gerald Cleaver, Nasheet Waits, Pheeroan akLaff, J.D. Allen, and others. As a leader, he made his U.S. debut on 2002's Somethin' Holy with saxophonist Alex Harding. He and Harding also formed the Lumination Ensemble, playing often around New York. Further well-regarded albums followed, including 2003's Premonition, and 2006's Playground with his Asymmetry ensemble. The following year, he paired with saxophonist Sam Newsome for The Romanian-American Jazz Suite. In 2010, he collaborated with bassist/arranger John Hébert to rework the music of Romanian composer George Enescu on Enesco Re-Imagined. He then paired with violinist Mat Maneri for the 2013 duo album Transylvanian Concert on ECM. Also that year, he issued the quartet date Mystery on Sunnyside, playing with Hébert, saxophonist Abraham Burton, and drummer Eric McPherson. The same group was on board 2016's Songs from Afar, which featured guest appearances by Maneri and vocalist Gavril Tarmure. Ban then joined Maneri and saxophonist Evan Parker for the 2017 trio session Sounding Tears on Clean Feed. In 2019, Ban and clarinetist Alex Simu paid homage to Jimmy Giuffre with the duo date Free Fall. Two years later he released the solo piano date Ways of Disappearing on Sunnyside. 2023's Oedipe Redux with Maneri was inspired by George Enescu's Oedipe Opera. The following year the duo re-teamed for Transylvanian Dance on ECM. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi