Good news for jazz lovers in Romania. A new album by vocalist Luiza Zan has been released - it's called Aer (Air) - and it will also be launched in Bucharest on November 27th, then in Galați. We're talking with Luiza Zan herself about all these events, as well as other concerts taking place during this period. Welcome back to Radio România Muzical.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Let's talk about Aer first. You've already had some launch concerts in the country. The album has begun its journey among jazz lovers. How were the first launch concerts and where did they take place?

The first concert was in Cluj. We had the great chance to perform at Edison, which is the child of the Jazz in the Park festival, where the vinyl can also be listened to and seen. It's there for anyone who wants to stop by and see it and hear it firsthand. Then we performed at the STUDIO International Theatre Festival in Târgu Mureș, and now we're preparing for the big launch in Bucharest.

This will take place at Control Club at 20:00. You've spent almost the entire year working with a remarkable quartet - Amphitrio plus Răzvan Florescu. How was the collaboration with them on the album?

I worked together with Andrei Petrache, Philip Goron, and Mike Alex - that is, Amphitrio - and with Răzvan Florescu, but not only with them. Alongside us at all times was their and our sound engineer, Alex Corlan. I must mention him, because without him we wouldn't have made it through this whole tour, and the album benefited from the masterful touch of Dănuț Georgescu at the controls. We recorded the album at Mellowdy Studios, right in the middle of preparations for the In My Village Symphonic tour, which is now coming to an end. It was an interesting challenge to work on two emotionally and artistically demanding projects in parallel, but I'm very lucky to work with people who are so talented and so professional. It was a pleasure. It truly warmed my heart to make this album, and I'm very proud of it. One shouldn't say such things, but I will: it's the best material I've created so far.

Since we mentioned the In My Village Symphonic tour, you have just one concert left - tonight in Satu Mare, with the Dinu Lipatti Philharmonic. What's your almost-final conclusion about the tour?

I'm going to miss this symphonic material very much. I can't wait for us to perform it again. So far, all the concerts have had something special. In every orchestra we played with, there was someone - at least one person - who had a direct connection with my mother. And because this material is dedicated to her, it felt as if she were with me throughout the entire tour. I'm really looking forward to tonight's concert.

For those who don't know, she was also a musician, which is why she was so well known in the world of classical performers. Returning, finally, to the album Aer: in what form is it available right now?

The album is my first vinyl, released exactly 20 years after my first discographic appearance, and it can be found in physical form at the venues where we perform, as well as on all listening and streaming platforms.

Photo by: Ferencz Ancsa