Nominated twice (2005 & 2006) for 'Best European Jazz Musician" by The Hans Koller Foundation in Austria, pianist and composer Lucian Ban was born in Cluj  Transylvania, Romania. After private piano/harmony lessons he studies composition at Bucharest Music Academy from 1992 to 1995. He establishes the group Jazz Unit in 1995 and releases two albums as a leader for the green records label in Romania. In 1999 he moves to New York where he graduates in Jazz & Contemporary Music at New School University. His American debut recording Somethin" Holy in duet with bari sax Alex Harding was awarded 4 stars by All Music Guide, and was followed by the critically praised quintet album "Premonition (2003), "Tuba Project" (feat. Bob Stewart, 2006) "Playground" (feat Jorge Sylvester, 2006) and 'The Romanian-American Jazz Suite" in 2008 by Sam Newsome & Lucian Ban Ensemble. The Lumination Ensemble co-lead with Alex Harding and featuring drum legend Barry Altschul was nominated One of the 10 best shows of 2003 by All About Jazz NYC. Since then he has played/recorded with: Alex Harding, Reggie Nicholson, Art Baron, Sam Newsome, Barry Altschul, Jorge Sylvester, Brad Jones, Bruce Williams, Damion Reid, Chris Dahlgren, Pheeroan AkLaff, J.D.Allen, Bruce Cox, Hill Greene, Carlo DeRosa, Curtis Fowlkes, Mark Helias, Gene Jackson, Ron Horton, Nasheet Waits, Bob Stewart, Gerald Cleaver, Derrek Phillips, etc.