TUBA PROJECT

“With The Tuba Project, Lucian Ban and Alex Harding have put together a raucous, bluesy, energetic, and at times ecstatic album. Drawing from deep roots in jazz and Afro-American music, these musicians play with a contagious abandon” All About Jazz

An all star ensemble Tuba Project is led by pianist Lucian Ban and bari sax player Aex Harding, and features alto saxophonist Bruce Williams, drummer Derrek Phillips and special guest the legendary Bob Stewart on tuba, one of the most unique brass players ever in jazz. Founded in 2004 by long time musical collaborators Alex Harding and Transylvanian born pianist Lucian Ban the group brings together some of the most creative voices in jazz today to form a unique ensemble built around the voices of saxophones and tuba. Some of NYC most celebrated jazz musicians like Sam Newsome, Jorge Sylvester, Otis Brown III have performed as special guests including tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen on the CIMP release.

Pulsating blues, new orleans riffs, post bop lines, funk grooves and free jazz outbursts can be found in their music but the sound of the group goes well beyond all those to become a voice of its own. playing original music the four musicians have to be seen and heard to get the full picture. After dozens of concerts and acclaimed performances the group has released to critical acclaim their debut album in 2005 on CIMP Records entitled simply “TUBA PROJECT”. 

“Ban’s playing blends stylistic slivers of Andrew Hill and McCoy Tyner with an abiding personal elegance and adroit attention to detail. On the opening “Cajun Stomp he drops a pithy quote from Monk’s “Well You Needn’t into a terpsichorean solo that nimbly negotiates the choppy second-line rhythm set up by drummer Derrek Phillips”

“Romanian-born pianist Lucian Ban and baritone saxophonist Alex Harding have a thriving collaboration, as evidenced by their well-focused Tuba Project. Mixed in with unsentimental scorchers like “Muhal’s Song”  pieces like “Cajun Stomp” and “Mexican Hat Dance” register as enlivening idiomatic spice, instead of compulsory nods to stock materials”

Bill Shoemaker

“Their latest group, the Tuba Project is, to these ears, their most satisfying recording yet. Stewart’s work on this disc is on a par with his stellar playing on the various Arthur Blythe projects with which he’s been involved”

Robert Iannapollo