IAN MAKSIN & GABRIEL DATCU at ART GALLERY KAFE

Sunday, July 27, 2025, 5:00PM

Art Gallery Kafe, 127 N Front St., Wood Dale, IL

Ian Maksin - cello, vocals

Gabriel Datcu - guitar

Tickets: $45 - front two row table seating; $37 - general admission (any area other than the front two rows of tables; $33 - special discount general admission when you buy 3 tickets or more. Actual seating is on first come first served basis. Only 50 tickets, and it gets quickly sold out, book now!

During a short break in his world touring, internationally renowned cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist singing in 40 languages Ian Maksin returns to Chicago's NW Suburbs for a one-of-a-kind concert! This time he will be joined by his long-time friend and collaborator Romanian guitarist Gabriel Datcu. They will play jazz classics from Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny and Chick Korea, t, popular songs in French, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, milongas by Astor Piazzolla, bossanovas by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa, several of Maksin's original songs and compositions as well as some hot rock and pop covers by Sting, Leonard Cohen and more!

Watch Ian & Gabriel play Game of Thrones theme

In the midst of his North American tour, world acclaimed cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist singing in 30 languages Ian Maksin returns to the Art Gallery Kafe for another concert! This time he will be joined by his long-time friend and collaborator Romanian guitarist Gabriel Datcu.They will play jazz classics from Duke Ellington, Miles, Pat Metheny and Chick Korea, Gypsy Jazz classics from Django Reinhardt, popular songs in French, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, milongas by Astor Piazzolla, bossa by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa, several of Maksin's original songs and compositions as well as some hot rock covers from Bon Jovi, Journey, the Queen and more! Portion of the proceeds will benefit For Wellbeing, a humanitarian organization in Ukraine.

BREAKING BOUNDARIES both musical and geographical, cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist IAN MAKSIN has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.

ONE-MAN ORCHESTRA:In addition to cello, he used an electronic device called the loop pedal, which allows him to create "loops" or layers by recording and replaying his own playing in real time.

SINGING IN 30 LANGUAGES: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. At this time Ian Maksin sings in 30 languages including Ukrainian, Russian, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa) and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are also infused with flavors of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration from: Mongolia, West Africa, Middle East, the Balkans, Andalusian flamenco.

THE GLOBAL MUSICIAN: Ian Maksin was born in Leningrad, USSR into a multinational family and grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad and then came to the USA at 16 to continue studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. After working for many years in the classical genre including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami Ian has decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and passion for jazz and world music has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian's own words: "At some point I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world”

As a native from Transylvania, Romania, Gabriel Datcu began his musical journey at 4 years old by playing the accordion. During elementary school he started studying piano and later on guitar.

His first encounter with guitar artists occurred when he was given two cassette tapes. One of them featured Christopher Parkening playing works by Bach and the other Ella Fitzgerald, singing jazz as she was accompanied by guitarists Joe Pass and Barney Kessel. Since then his commitment to studying these two music styles, classical and improvisation, has been uncompromising.

​After entering the College of Fine Arts of Bucharest in 1998 and later on the Music Conservatory, Gabriel was approached by one of his improvisation teachers, Marius Pop, to perform at several music venues throughout the city and on several national TV stations. This opportunity has provided Gabriel to meet, study, and perform several of the best Romanian jazz musicians: Sorin Romanescu, Tudy Zaharescu and Pedro Negrescu. He later recorded on guitar, on the national Radio-Television studios, (T8) accompanied by his music mentor, Marius Pop . Gabriel was then approached by Marin Pecheas Big Band to perform and tour in Europe.

In year 2000, Gabriel was offered the chance to study and settle in the U.S. He was awarded a musical scholarship to De Paul University, where he studied with Bob Galmieri, jazz guitar instructor, and at Northern Illinois University where he was taught by Fareed Haque. Eventually, Pat Metheny Groups bassist – Steve Rodby, helped him advance to playing elements of improvisations. The Bloom School of Jazz also had a major impact on Gabriel’s music growth. There he learned the subtleties of improvisation with David Bloom. Gabriel moved on to perform on several Chicago's jazz stages such as Green Mill and Jazz Showcase as part of the Bloom Schools curricula.

​By attending several music workshops he had opportunity to study with Pat Metheny and John Scofield, which became two of his stylistic major influences. Currently, Gabriel continues his musical journey by using his talents as he performs on several recording projects involving both classical and improvisation music, either with orchestras such as Logos Symphony Orchestra or with modern bands throughout Chicago City and its surrounding suburbs.

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