romanian jazz

romania gave to the world some first class jazz musicians, that i strongly recommend. i will only name here a few of them. it's up to you to search for them further. i won't mention their collaborations outside romania, being too many and each important :D again, this is not a full list

the legends

*richard oschanitzky (b. 1939, timişoara / d. 1979, bucharest) - pianist, composer and conductor; renowned name of the bop, cool, free jazz and symphonic jazz styles of jazz music. the international jazz festival of iaşi holds his name

*johnny răducanu (b. 1931, brăila) - pianist, founder of the romanian jazz school, mr. jazz of romania; many times has stated taht he's proud of his roma ethnicity and of his family's musical tradition, that dates back to the 17th century

*harry tavitian (b. 1952, constanţa) - pianist; member of the romanian band orient express, as well of the multinational band the black sea orchestra; much of his music is influenced by the balkanic folklore; he's of armenian ethnicity

*aura urziceanu (b. 1946) - vocalist; at the end of the '60s she was already recognized in europe and in the us as a very talented jazz vocalist (next week in iasi, at the jazz festival)

*anca parghel (b. 1957, cîmpulung moldovenesc) - vocalist; well-known from the '80s; resides in belgium

known before 1990 (the fall of the communism)

*radu goldiş (b. 1947, bucharest) - guitarist; resides in the united states

*eugen gondi (b. timişoara, 1947) - drummer; former member of paul weiner free jazz trio, transylvania phoenix, ceata melopoică; currently living in the netherlands

the new wave

*pedro negrescu (b. 1969, tecuci) - plays mainly the double-bass, but also the trumpet, the cello and the piano; has his own band, soft triangle

*sorin romanescu (b. 1968) - bassist and guitarist; former member of the newcomers, sarmalele reci, 7th heaven, aievea, east village

*mihai iordache (b. 1967, bucharest) - plays the saxophone; former member in the bands orient express, sarmalele reci and rebop factory. now he's a member of the acclaimed romanian band kumm (i've seen him live and i loved what he's done with the sax)

*eddie neumann (b. 1974, tulcea) - plays the saxophone; former member of jazz unit, orient express and blazzaj; now resides in the uk

*lucian ban (b. cluj) - considered one of the best jazz pianists in europe

*vlaicu golcea - bass guitar; member of shukar collective and east village; he also started some other projects, like rebop factory, nobo and jazz unit

*cristian soleanu - saxophone player

*vlad popescu (b. 1977, bucharest) - drummer, member of joy of life (you can see the band next week in iaşi, at the jazz festival)