Stefan Stoianovici & The Hard Bop Quintet

Stefan Stoianovici & The Hard Bop Quintet

An energetic yet thoughtful evening of modern jazz, built around the open spirit of music by the great legends of the Hard Bop era. Join this quintet for a night where deep listening meets spontaneous reaction and the original arrangements blend seamlessly with resonant themes from the masters, featuring new, alive versions of classics from names like Art Blakey, Clifford Brown and Hank Mobley.

Ștefan Stoianovici is an emergent pianist and composer from the new generation of Romanian jazz. Active on Bucharest's jazz scene as well as in contemporary classical and cross-genre projects, his work usually bridges jazz improvisation, classical forms, and electronic production, but also remains anchored in the straight-ahead tradition of jazz. He has composed for theater and media, alongside concert pieces for orchestra and jazz arrangements performed by the National Philharmonic and Radio Big Band. He is featured in his album Cycles - Live at The Romanian Athenaeum (2025) leading his own sextet.

Paolo Profeti is an Italian‑born saxophonist, composer, and arranger who has become a prominent figure in Romania’s contemporary jazz scene after moving to Bucharest in 2013. His central band is the Paolo Profeti European Collective, a cross‑border contemporary‑jazz group that mixes Italian and Romanian musicians and blends jazz with progressive and electronic elements. The Collective has released several albums, including Waiting for Bucharest (2015), Glide (2019), and Peer Out (2024), and regularly appears at jazz clubs and festivals in Romania, Italy, and elsewhere in Europe. Profeti is lead alto and section leader of the Big Band of Romanian National Radio.

Silviu Groaza is one of the premier trumpet and flugelhorn players on the contemporary Romanian jazz scene. A foundational member of the prestigious Radio Romania Big Band and lead trumpet for the Bucharest Jazz Orchestra, Groaza is celebrated for his brilliant tone, technical precision, and stylistic versatility. Whether steering hard bop quintets, anchoring large-ensemble swing projects, or exploring avant-garde fusion alongside the country's jazz vanguard, his soulful and dynamic playing has made him a highly sought-after collaborator and a definitive voice in modern Romanian brass music.

Adrian Flautistu is one of the most prominent and versatile double bassists on the contemporary Romanian jazz scene. A graduate of the National University of Music Bucharest, he has established himself as a masterful anchor for both traditional bebop and complex modern fusion. Celebrated for his technical precision and rhythmic drive, Flautistu has shared international stages with icons of Romanian jazz like Mircea Tiberian and Sorin Zlat. His exceptional artistry has earned him numerous accolades, including the "Revelation of the Year" award at the Romanian Jazz Awards Gala and top prizes at the Sibiu and Getxo (Spain) International Jazz Festivals.

Gabi Matei is a Romanian jazz drummer based in Bucharest, known for his dynamic style and international collaborations. He performs with trios and ensembles across Europe, emphasizing improvisation and has made radio/TV recordings on four continents. He has notably performed recently with artists like David Berkman, Marko Churnchetz and Joris Teepe and has been featured in several international albums as a sideman.