Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri: TRANSYLVANIAN DANCE
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri bring Transylvanian Dance to Barbès as a piano-and-viola duo, reworking Transylvanian folk songs and dance tunes collected by Béla Bartók. The melodies serve as material for arrangements that retain the spirit of the originals while opening into jazz improvisation.
Romanian-born, New York-based pianist Ban grew up in the Transylvanian region where Bartók did much of his folk-song collecting. With U.S. violist Maneri, his long-running collaborator, he has developed a modern chamber-jazz approach that joins regional folk material, European classical music and improvisation. The Financial Times praised the intricate weave of Maneri’s “raspy viola” and Ban’s “full-bodied piano,” while ECM Reviews called their partnership “finely attuned.”
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.