Wednesday, April 29, 2026

The instrumental piano trio was born in Transylvania and belongs to the new generation of cross-genre Romanian jazz groups, with a unique style defined by a complex sound reminiscent of film music, nu jazz, fusion and progressive rock. Despite the classic format of the trio (keys, bass and drums), MINDTHEGAP’s music creates a genuine blend of varied genres by using a modern approach of playing classical instruments, but also by adding different elements from electronic, rock and world music.

Created by Ştefan ORMENIŞAN (composer, keys) in 2023 together with two young musicians, Alex CIOATÃ (composer, bass) and Tamás ISZLAI (drums), MINDTHEGAP has quickly gained recognition, playing at prestigious festivals in Romania,such as Garana Jazz Fest, Electric Castle and Jazz in the Park Competition, when they have been awarded for Best Romanian Act, and many others. 

Weather performing on the stage or in the studio, the trio’s ability to mix together different sounds and musical influences results in imerssive experiences that are both unexpected and captivating. Their compositions are inspired by the multicultural diversity of Transylvania, with raw and emotional harmonic schemes blending improvised solo’s and complex rhythms, allowing the audience to enjoy a diverse and unique soundscape. MINDTHEGAP Trio stands out of the crowd on the contemporary jazz scene by showing an ensemble leading rather than the traditional single leader scheme, allowing the music to benefit from the shared creative development and the concept of unity through diversity.