Harding, Alex & Lucian Ban
Blutopia
The relationship between Alex Harding and Lucian Ban has been long and fruitful . Their combination of elements of improvisational music native to their homelands, namely the United States and Romania, have helped the pair develop a unique musical language that transcends the expectations of the jazz genre. Their new recording, Blutopia, highlights their attuned rapport while allowing their music to unfold with their own singular ensemble. On Blutopia, Harding and Ban have decided to bring together an ensemble that bridges their two musical worlds even further by including old friends Bob Stewart, Brandon Lewis, and Maneri. Of course, Stewart is well known as one of the most heralded improvising tuba players. Drummer Lewis remains a longtime collaborator and a regular on the New York jazz scene . The quintet came together to record Blutopia at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn on August 29, 2023.