Johnny Raducanu - A Great Figure of the Romanian Jazz
Those of you in love with jazz genre, must have heard about Johnny Raducanu, the veteran of the Romanian Jazz music. See more about his accomplishments and career.
The very first signs of Romanian jazz music appeared about seventy years ago, when some jazz bands appeared like the ones led by Emil and Mihai Berinde, Theodor Cosma, Elly Roman. What they were actually trying to do was to sing and play "live music" on the Bucharest radio station (which was formed in 1928). They would also play in clubs that were popular at those times, and their music was largely made of what they had heard from imported discs, whereas other Romanian jazz figures like James Cok, Nicu Vladescu, George Vintilescu, Take Banescu and others have recorded in Berlin, pieces that could be included in the ragtime and the incipient traditional jazz categories.
These very first steps taken in the Romanian jazz music happily coincided with the birth of Johnny Raducanu. He is the one who became a symbol of jazz music in the Romanian country.
Johnny Raducanu has become popular, ever since his academic years of study. He was an excellent contrabass player back then, too, and also an amazing improviser. He collaborated with the best musicians of those times. He also collaborated with Bucharest Radio Station, he was a member of the Electrecord orchestra (starting with the year of 1960), conducted by Theodor Cosma, then later on by Alexandru Imre. He was also part of the band led by the pianist named Incsy Korosy, and part of the famous Bucharest Jazz Quintet (starting with 1969) made of saxophone players like Dan Mandrila, Stefan Berindei, the pianist Marius Popp, the drum player Eugen Gondi, a band which performed a lot of concerts and made a lot of records on the radio, and also on the Electrecord Records. He has won the gold medal in the International Youth Jazz Festival in Moscow, in 1962, and also took part in the Warsaw and Prague International Jazz Festivals (in 1968), and so on.
So this fine gentleman has won plenty of recognition of his jazz talent, ever since his early years of music. Now, he is generally known as an excellent pianist. He has won the hearts of thousands of jazz music lovers, not only in Romania, but also around the world. His whole life proved to be dedicated to this great passion he had for really good quality music, and he managed to choose his company very well, so that he collaborated with plenty of good artists and enjoyed both critics', and the audience's approval and interest.
Then in the spring of 1987, Johnny Raducanu got invited to the US. He spent there three months, taking part in academic conferences, giving recitals, meeting great performers of jazz music, but also people from the educational field, and in general those who promoted jazz music. He thus had the opportunity to share plenty of information regarding the situation of jazz music in Romania. In that year, Romania was still under Communism, yet many people greatly enjoyed this musical genre. This information was included in the American databases. Johnny Raducanu also appeared live on two radio shows, which lasted one hour each, made by the celebrated jazz editor Willis Conover for the Voice of America Radio.
The American Leonard Feather used to call Johnny Raducanu "Mr. Jazz of Romania". This artist reflects himself by the direct contact with his fans.
This popular musician enjoyed plenty of signs of recognition for his long career (over half of century). Thus, during a special ceremony which took place on June 28th 1977, the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Harry G. Barnes-Jr. gave Mr. Raducanu, a Certificate of Appreciation, in which he was esteemed as the most significant promoter of Romanian jazz music in America, and of American jazz music in Romania. So through his art, Johnny Raducanu managed, in fact to link the two countries to each other. Apart from the numerous awards and distinctions awarded to him by several magazines, the musician has become, since October 25th, 1997, a Citizen of Honor, in his hometown Braila.
In spite of his age, the master still composes, ceaselessly marking his presence in music as a pianist and leader of a band, giving weekly performances in clubs, being frequently invited at festivals both in Romania and abroad (Italy, Switzerland, USA).
These very first steps taken in the Romanian jazz music happily coincided with the birth of Johnny Raducanu. He is the one who became a symbol of jazz music in the Romanian country.
Johnny Raducanu has become popular, ever since his academic years of study. He was an excellent contrabass player back then, too, and also an amazing improviser. He collaborated with the best musicians of those times. He also collaborated with Bucharest Radio Station, he was a member of the Electrecord orchestra (starting with the year of 1960), conducted by Theodor Cosma, then later on by Alexandru Imre. He was also part of the band led by the pianist named Incsy Korosy, and part of the famous Bucharest Jazz Quintet (starting with 1969) made of saxophone players like Dan Mandrila, Stefan Berindei, the pianist Marius Popp, the drum player Eugen Gondi, a band which performed a lot of concerts and made a lot of records on the radio, and also on the Electrecord Records. He has won the gold medal in the International Youth Jazz Festival in Moscow, in 1962, and also took part in the Warsaw and Prague International Jazz Festivals (in 1968), and so on.
So this fine gentleman has won plenty of recognition of his jazz talent, ever since his early years of music. Now, he is generally known as an excellent pianist. He has won the hearts of thousands of jazz music lovers, not only in Romania, but also around the world. His whole life proved to be dedicated to this great passion he had for really good quality music, and he managed to choose his company very well, so that he collaborated with plenty of good artists and enjoyed both critics', and the audience's approval and interest.
Then in the spring of 1987, Johnny Raducanu got invited to the US. He spent there three months, taking part in academic conferences, giving recitals, meeting great performers of jazz music, but also people from the educational field, and in general those who promoted jazz music. He thus had the opportunity to share plenty of information regarding the situation of jazz music in Romania. In that year, Romania was still under Communism, yet many people greatly enjoyed this musical genre. This information was included in the American databases. Johnny Raducanu also appeared live on two radio shows, which lasted one hour each, made by the celebrated jazz editor Willis Conover for the Voice of America Radio.
The American Leonard Feather used to call Johnny Raducanu "Mr. Jazz of Romania". This artist reflects himself by the direct contact with his fans.
This popular musician enjoyed plenty of signs of recognition for his long career (over half of century). Thus, during a special ceremony which took place on June 28th 1977, the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Harry G. Barnes-Jr. gave Mr. Raducanu, a Certificate of Appreciation, in which he was esteemed as the most significant promoter of Romanian jazz music in America, and of American jazz music in Romania. So through his art, Johnny Raducanu managed, in fact to link the two countries to each other. Apart from the numerous awards and distinctions awarded to him by several magazines, the musician has become, since October 25th, 1997, a Citizen of Honor, in his hometown Braila.
In spite of his age, the master still composes, ceaselessly marking his presence in music as a pianist and leader of a band, giving weekly performances in clubs, being frequently invited at festivals both in Romania and abroad (Italy, Switzerland, USA).
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