The Radio Big Band celebrates pianist, composer, and professor Romeo Cozma on his 70th birthday. "Echoes" is the title of the concert performed by the orchestra conducted by Simona Strungaru in honor of the Iași-born musician, on Thursday, November 6th, at 7:00 p.m. The program consists of compositions by Romeo Cozma, arranged for big band by his son, Robert Cozma. Viorel Grecu spoke with both musicians for more details about the event.

"Echoes," essentially a gift concert. Could you tell us how this project was born and how it is being carried out together with the Radio Big Band?

Robert Cozma: You already mentioned the key word - it is a gift. It's an idea I had a year and a half ago: to offer my father a musical gift, a complete program composed of his own works arranged for Big Band.

Mr. Romeo Cozma, how did you receive this gift? Was it kept secret for a long time? How did you find out about it?

Romeo Cozma: It was indeed kept secret for a long time. I found out only a month before the project, and I was very surprised, especially because it's the first time I've had the chance to play with a professional big band. In my entire career, I've never had such an opportunity, and it was a total surprise - but at the same time, it brought me great joy, because I know very well the artistic value of the Radio Romania Big Band and I had even dreamed of such an event, where I could hear part of my work performed by a large ensemble with arrangements of a very high level. So the surprise, even though it was kept secret for a long time, was most welcome, and I am very happy with such a gift, arriving right around my 70th birthday.

I imagine any musician would love to hear his music through the vision of his son. You haven't started rehearsals yet, but I'm sure you've seen the arrangements. How do they seem to you in relation to the originals? How has Robert adapted them to this larger context?

Romeo Cozma: Of course certain elements of the original versions have been preserved, especially in terms of themes, but many changes have been made as well - some of them truly surprising - because such an orchestral ensemble offers more possibilities for arranging, for modifying harmonic, rhythmic, or melodic pathways, and so on.

So it was a surprising change even for me, but I hope the audience will appreciate this new form of my pieces, and I am convinced they will be successful.

Robert, I'd like you to tell us a bit about your work. I looked through your biographies, and in many respects they resemble each other - almost mirror images, with the expected generational gap. Tell us what you're doing now. I know you're very active in Germany, and you've performed there the music of Mr. Romeo Cozma - your father's music?

Robert Cozma: I studied there for five years, in Nuremberg, and I've maintained connections with many musicians, including the jazz orchestra Sunday Night Orchestra, with whom I recently performed - just a week ago - together with my father. We played original compositions and some of the pieces we will also perform on Thursday, November 6th, at the Radio Hall.

On your most recent album I noticed you also have a piece dedicated to your father. Will it be included in the concert? What can you reveal to us about Song for Dad?

Robert Cozma: Yes, that's right. I recently arranged this piece, Song for Dad, a piece dedicated to my father, for Big Band, and you will also hear it on Thursday at the concert.