Popular jazz musician loses cancer fight (From The Argus)

Popular jazz musician loses cancer fight

7:40pm Friday 25th January 2013 in News

A popular musician has died after losing his fight with cancer.

Vasile Stanescu, also known as “Baz”, was a virtuoso jazz violinist who entertained crowds at Brighton venues including Joogleberry, The Hanbury Ballroom and Komedia.

He was found dead at his home in Crawley Down on January 8 after battling lymphatic cancer. He was 53.

The talented performer trained at the Burcharest Conservatoire in Romania before coming to the UK to marry his ex-wife Nikki, who was from Haywards Heath, in 1997.

He became a pivotal part of local jazz group Ultraswing and embarked on ten years of gigs and performances across Sussex. He returned home to Romania briefly before returning to Sussex to play with another band called Hai La Drum. The group focused on jazz-inspired Romanian, Balkan and Russian music and performed together for five years.

He leaves a son, Octavian Sirfa, and two daughters, Yunona and Marry Jane.

Local double bass player Dan Sheppard worked with Mr Stanescu for 15 years. He said: “He was extremely talented, and deserved a bigger stage.”

Mr Stanescu’s friends and family are welcoming donations for his funeral fund. It will be used to fly his family from Romania for his burial in Haywards Heath. To donate, e-mail dan_sheppard@me.com.

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