Virtuoso and eclectic pianist Ramona Horvath draws her inspiration from the great jazz masters while continually shaping a personal voice —one deeply rooted in the swing and bebop traditions, yet unmistakably modern in expression. An active performer on the French and European jazz scene, Ramona regularly appears in concerts, clubs, and festivals throughout Italy, Hungary, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Serbia, and Montenegro, among others. She continues to refine her art and explore new musical dimensions, while remaining true to the lyrical sensitivity and expressive depth that define her pianistic identity.

Born in Bucharest to a family of musicians —a Romanian mother and a Hungarian father— Ramona discovered her passion early on for Broadway standards and the music of Duke Ellington, nurtured by hours spent listening to Willis Conover's “Jazz Hour” on the Voice of America broadcasts.

Ramona began playing piano by ear at the age of three and entered music school at six. Her early years were steeped in a rich blend of styles —jazz, classical, American songbook repertoire, traditional Romanian and Hungarian folk melodies, gypsy music, and Cuban boleros.

At twenty-three, she graduated from the National University of Music in Bucharest (CNSM) with a degree in classical piano performance. It was soon after that she met Jancy Korossy, the renowned American-Hungarian jazz pianist — a legendary figure behind the Iron Curtain in the 1950s and '60s — who became her mentor and introduced her fully to the world of jazz. Together, they performed as a two-piano duo on numerous European stages over several years.

Now based in Paris, Ramona has released several albums on the French Black & Blue label, each exploring a distinct musical universe:

• XS Bird (Trio) — dedicated to the memory of Jancy Korossy and awarded Best Jazz Album in Romania
• Lotus Blossom (Quartet) — a project inspired by Ellington’s music
• Le Sucrier Velours — an acclaimed duo recording with bassist Nicolas Rageau, her long-time musical partner
• Carmen’s Karma (Trio, 2023) — a creative reimagining of classical themes.

https://www.ramonahorvath.com