Florin Niculescu

Florin Niculescu is a renowned Romanian jazz violinist who has made a significant contribution to the world of jazz music. He has been recognized for his unique style, virtuosity, and ability to fuse various musical genres. Niculescu is widely regarded as one of the best jazz violinists of his generation, and his music has been appreciated by audiences all around the world.

Niculescu was born in Bucharest, Romania, on May 23, 1967. He grew up in a family of musicians and began playing the violin at the age of five. His father, Ion Niculescu, was a famous jazz pianist, and his mother, Aneta Stavila, was an opera singer. Niculescu was exposed to various styles of music from a very young age, and he was particularly interested in jazz.

Niculescu studied at the Bucharest Academy of Music, where he was trained in classical music. However, he was more interested in jazz, and he began performing with various jazz bands in Romania. In 1990, Niculescu moved to Paris, where he began to establish himself as a jazz violinist. He was soon noticed by the French jazz community, and he began to perform with some of the most famous jazz musicians in the country.

Niculescu’s music is characterized by his virtuosity, his improvisational skills, and his ability to blend various musical genres. He is known for his fast, precise, and melodic playing, and his music is often described as energetic and passionate. Niculescu has recorded several albums, including “Gypsy Jazz,” “Tzigane,” and “Gipsy Ballads,” which have received critical acclaim and have been widely praised for their musicality and originality.

Niculescu’s music is heavily influenced by the gypsy jazz style, which originated in France in the 1930s. This style is characterized by its use of the guitar and the violin, as well as its fast tempos and virtuosic solos. Niculescu has taken this style to a new level, incorporating various other genres such as classical, Latin, and funk. His music is a fusion of various musical styles, and he is known for his ability to seamlessly blend them together.

Niculescu has performed with some of the most famous jazz musicians in the world, including Bireli Lagrene, Didier Lockwood, and Biréli Lagrène. He has also performed with orchestras such as the Orchestre National de France and the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his performances, Niculescu is also a highly regarded music educator. He has taught at the Paris Conservatory and has conducted workshops all over the world, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of musicians.

Niculescu’s musical achievements have not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards, including the Django Reinhardt Prize in 2008, which is awarded to the best jazz musician in the world. He has also been nominated for several other awards, including the Victoires de la Musique, which is the most prestigious music award in France.

In conclusion, Florin Niculescu is a highly respected jazz violinist who has made a significant contribution to the world of jazz music. His unique style, virtuosity, and ability to blend various musical genres have earned him a reputation as one of the best jazz violinists of his generation. Niculescu’s music is characterized by his fast, precise, and melodic playing, and his ability to seamlessly blend various musical styles together. He is not only a highly regarded musician but also a respected music educator, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of musicians. Niculescu’s contribution to the world of jazz music

Discography

1995 Portrait of Django with Hot Club de Norvège

1999 L’Esprit Roumain with Corneliu Niculescu

2000 Gipsy Ballad

2005 Djangophonie (Le Chant du Monde)

2005 Four Friends (Jardis)

2008 Florin Niculescu Plays Stéphane Grapelli (Blu Jazz)

2010 Django Tunes (Enja)[2]

2018 Florilège (Hot Club Records)