Burhan Ocal's instruments are as diverse as his music. In addition to a wide variety of percussion, such as the Darbuka (a vase-shaped drum played with the fingers), he is a highly skilled player on a number of stringed instruments, including the Divan-Saz, Tanbur and Ud. His expressive voice adds...
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Burhan Ocal's instruments are as diverse as his music. In addition to a wide variety of percussion, such as the Darbuka (a vase-shaped drum played with the fingers), he is a highly skilled player on a number of stringed instruments, including the Divan-Saz, Tanbur and Ud. His expressive voice adds to the spectrum of musical elements at his command.
Since 1977, Burhan Ocal has divided his time between Istanbul and Zurich, Switzerland. He has become widely known for touring and recording with his Oriental Ensemble, which performs traditional gypsy and Turkish folk music. Seeking out a range of world-class collabolators, he has also performed with Maria, Joao Pires, keyboard specialist Joe Zawinul and, more recently, guitarist Eliot Fisk. He appears regularly with his own jazz band, the Burhan Ocal Group, and as a guest artist with George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band from Switzerland. His newest projects including the formation of the duo with the remarkable Australian pianist Peter Waters and, his most unusual venture, the creation of a Oriental/Funk/Hip-Hop band with the American bass players Jamaladeen Tacuma.
"The album feels immensly personal and well constructed -- I can't recommend it high enough". Phil Meadley Songlines Top of the World March/April 04
Wishing to pay tribute to the musical heritage of his birthplace Kırklareli, master percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Burhan Öçal comes back home for the “most personal� project of his life. To transform local traditional musical styles into modern ones with the help of digital technologies and to present them to the world through superb performances by master musicians.
Burhan aimed to include all his early influences in this project. He wandered through most of the musician cafes in Trakya (Thrace) and showed up at many local celebrations with the intention to form an orchestra made up of unknown musicians who were true masters of their instruments. The double davul (local drum) and zurna (a reed instrument somehat resembling an oboe) combination of Kırklareli was complemented by the “ince saz� of Trakya consisting of clarinet, violin, cumbush, kanun and darbuka. The Balkans came in with the trumpet and accordion, which are actually hard-to-find instruments in Turkish music. In the end, he was able to form a band that he could confidently name The Trakya All Stars. All of the musicians involved in this project share a common heritage. Except for Burhan, all are of Gypsy origin and all their ancestors including Burhan’s migrated from Thessaloniki (Salonika) region in northern Greece at the beginning of the 1900’s. A key aspect of the project is the Tunisian born French musician, sound engineer and producer Smadj, highly respected for his knowledge of oriental music and for his digital innovations. Smadj’s contribution to this album is essential. His programmed beats and arrangements, as well as his recording, mixing and production skills have helped to define the timeless character of this album which manages to take deep tradition to a contemporary level. Öçal summarizes his responsibility: “The essential core of these traditions has been preserved over the centuries like precious stones. Now we have to take advantage of the limitless possibilities of digital technology to present their true spirit to today’s listeners so that they can continue for generations ahead.�
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