ECM Romanian Recordings?

[jazzintel]

Hi, I'm new to this site, and for years was a Senior Fulbright Professor of Music in Romania. I was wondering if ECM still searched for the unique and underheard projects as before, or are they justifiably more preoccupied with occasional efforts from standard bearers, and their rich vault of unreleased material?

I inquire because there is so much remarkable ECM styled Bucharest music, often labeled jazz, just waiting to be heard by a larger audience. Artists like Mircea Tiberian and Vlaicu Golcea (just to name two) have dozens of homemade recodings that are of a world standard. It would seem that all ECM would have to do is accept their masters as is, and see if there was a market. I would bet that Golcea alone releases upwards of a half dozen recordings a year.

I've always believed it unfortunate that so much of the Bucharest music remains anonymous. Some of it is as good as anything out there.

[Simon Fay]

I'd certainly be interested to hear what's coming out of Romania music-wise. Nowadays Eicher seems to scoop up hitherto-unknown-to-me people who already have at least one official release out but his talent-spotting seems more weighted towards the Art Music and Folk Song-derived axes rather than what could be construed as 'Jazz'

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by jazzintel

Artists like Mircea Tiberian and Vlaicu Golcea (just to name two) have dozens of homemade recodings that are of a world standard. It would seem that all ECM would have to do is accept their masters as is, and see if there was a market. I would bet that Golcea alone releases upwards of a half dozen recordings a year.

Do you have contacts for these guys?

[jazzintel]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

Do you have contacts for these guys?

Yeah, I have contacts with most all of those folks. Although I haven't been out there in about a year, I regularly keep in touch and run a summer camp in the western village of Jupanesti with Brian Torff and others. I was the conductor of their national jazz Ensemble. Still, the Romanians are best in small group settings. Their most original stuff that would classify as jazz has serious etno overtones but still swings very much in the western sense... In other words ECM style. Their rhythm sections and saxophonists especially are as good as anyone.

Mircea and Vlaicu are just the tip of the iceberg.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by jazzintel

Yeah, I have contacts with most all of those folks. Although I haven't been out there in about a year, I regularly keep in touch and run a summer camp in the western village of Jupanesti with Brian Torff and others. I was the conductor of their national jazz Ensemble. Still, the Romanians are best in small group settings. Their most original stuff that would classify as jazz has serious etno overtones but still swings very much in the western sense... In other words ECM style. Their rhythm sections and saxophonists especially are as good as anyone.

Mircea and Vlaicu are just the tip of the iceberg.

If you can PM me with their contacts, I am interested in small group settings with them, since I will return to Eastern Europe in the fall.

DG

[Pete C]

Don't rule out Enja either.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Pete C

Don't rule out Enja either.

Or Enja's sister label, TUTU Records.

[picsou]

Originally Posted by jazzintel

I inquire because there is so much remarkable ECM styled Bucharest music, often labeled jazz, just waiting to be heard by a larger audience.

And I will add that a visit to the country is worth the little trouble. Avoid Bucharest in the middle of summer though. But there are mountains with very few tourists, very quiet and beautiful lakes.