Discovering the present through a re-working of the past

Michael Cretu is an extraordinary double-bass player who had been living in the UK for some time. He came to England to further his study and, in his words, ‘Hopefully expand my experience and my knowledge’, fully intending to return to Romania once this feat had been accomplished. However, it seems that there is an endless list of things to learn and, subsequently, he settled in the UK.

The result of this is that, in the last few years, as a result of his continued work as bass player and composer, and living far away from Romania, his compositions turned towards himself and his own experiences.  Thus a body of work is currently ensuing, focused on the double-bass, but perhaps more intently looking at his own Roma ancestry. Indeed, Michael is part of a group of ‘settled’ Roma whose family members are highly regarded musicians in Romania. So much so that his uncle, Johnny Raducanu, is considered the father of Romanian jazz.

This is a legacy he wishes, in this group of recordings, to continue with, embrace and celebrate.