Winning over hearts with his music, one parking lot at a time

When Christine Bowman went to Target in Huntington Beach one day in January, she thought she was just going to buy groceries.

She didn’t know she would become fixated on the sounds of an electric violin filling the parking lot.

The traditional Romanian song, played by Alessandro Tanasache, was unlike anything the Huntington Beach woman had heard before, at least in Orange County.

“I have been a dancer and have been very involved in performances,” Bowman said. “I’m very attuned to things, and what I heard from him is just playing from the heart. There’s kind of a power with music, and I could tell right away that he is somebody who lives his music, and that is his identity.”

Bowman became entranced by Tanasache’s music and became fast friends with him. She now serves as his English translator — he speaks five other languages — and helps him book gigs.

Tanasache, a fifth-generation violinist, moved to Anaheim in 2013 from Craiova, Romania, where he made his living playing the electric violin.

When he moved with his wife and two of his four children to the United States, Tanasache kept the faithful instrument by his side.

“Number one, I wanted to come to America because it’s been a dream of mine,” he said in French, using Bowman as a translator one August afternoon at the Target store where they met. “I also wanted to come so my children can have a good life.”

Playing in the U.S. has been different from what the 43-year-old was accustomed to in his home country.

Back in Romania, he was playing in ensembles. And during his 18 years in Italy, he played with a group that performed for the Italian president.

Now, he plays six days a week at private events, including weddings and parties, and in various store parking lots across Orange County. He often earns $40 to $80 a day busking to support his family.

Tanasache said he accepts having to start his career in America this way.

“A lot of musicians have started playing in the streets or other places like that, and things get going from there,” he said. “I have ambitions. I’m not afraid to be in this country starting this way. It’s just all about making connections.”

Tanasache has an ability to listen to a piece of music and play along. During a recent performance at a poetry reading, Tanasache played his traditional Romanian songs. After his set, he was invited to join a band playing more-modern songs.

“I can listen and play with them anyway, even though the music is brand new,” he said. “I found the music simple to play with. It wasn’t as complicated as I’m used to. The music I grew up with is very complex and very subtle. Finding people to play traditional music from Romania is difficult.”

He said he hopes to play regularly with other musicians, but finding players who can perform the same classical or traditional music he favors has proved difficult.

For now, he’s content sharing his music in parking lots as passersby stop and listen briefly before going on their way.

On this August afternoon outside Target, as a woman was exiting the store, she stopped for a moment to listen to Tanasache’s music.

She then pulled a $20 bill out of her purse and placed it in the violinist’s hand when he was done playing.

“I like your music,” she said. “Thank you for playing it.”