Projects
Ricky Ford Orchestra
The Ricky Ford Orchestra features some of the most promising musicians in Turkey today. The creative out put of the orchestra is firmly rooted in the tradition of jazz and contemporary improvisation. Its repertoire features the music of several major composers and soloist of middle,late twentieth century and early twentyfirst century jazz music. To hear the orchestra brings back the classical moods of jazz combined with the modern emprovisations. With the leading sound of the Ricky Ford the orchestra invites the audience to a musical journey that full of obsession, passion and Euphoria.. Every performance on the stage can be considered as unique . During the performance you can hear the saxophones talking , shouting and laughing. The performance is also the moments where you can find an extraordinary combination of ‘Ney’ and ‘ Darbuka’ with Bass Baritone.
Ricky Ford-Tenor Saxophone, Baris Erturk-Tenor Saxophone, Cagdas Oruc-Alto Saxophone, Duru Tuna-Alto Saxophone, Serhan Erkol-Baritone Saxophone , Ahmet Turkmenoglu-Bass, Ediz Hafizoglu-Drums.
Teneffüs
Teneffus has been established in 2004 in order to materialize original music. Teneffus, which is a quintet in a format different than the regular, is formed of two saxophones, vibraphone, drums and contrabass. The group founded by Serhan Erkol (alto saxophone) and Baris Erturk (tenor, baritone saxophone) has taken its current form with the participation of, respectively, Ediz Hafizoglu (drums&percussion), Ahmet Turkmenoglu (contrabass) and Tunc Cakir (vibraphone). This group also comprises the musicians that has formed the substructure of Ricky Ford Orchestra. Teneffus performs their own compositions in a way open for impromptu and simple. The group that has completed the recording of their first album called ‘Sabah Için’, shall introduce this album with their audience during the upcoming days. Teneffus, of which the repertory is fully instrumental, has been on stage in many festivals (Istanbul Jazz Festival, Ankara Jazz Festival, Samsun Jazz Festival, Eskisehir Jazz Festival) and different organizations implemented in Istanbul.
Serhan Erkol-Alto Saksaphone, Barış Erturk -Tenor-Bariton Saksaphone, Tunc Cakir-Vibraphone, Ahmet Turkmenoglu-Kontrbas, Ediz Hafizoglu-Drums&Percussion
Kolektif Istanbul
Kolektif Istanbul has been mainly based on such a purpose that is about musical variance of Eastern Europe in the sense of traditional repertories. By this intention which primarily refers to a subjective positioning on musical understanding through ethnic and traditional music is what the project aims to acknowledge cultural sharing and meetings in where the " traditionally repertory" represents the bulk of the marriages and to rituals that are surrounded by. The main context of the musical purpose is mostly focusing on the "meeting" of Anatolian and Balkan Cultures. The project has been coming to the result in which it have had two steps of musical springs, are both the five years traveling, coincidences and meetings of French saxophone player Richard Laniepce, and the "company" what is carried by a Kolektif of musicians who are attached to a specific character of music while appreciating musical explorations, as well. Nevertheless, the original characters of the melodies, inspirations, and so themes on the path of musical travel, has been overcome with "respect" and gaining ethical positions, in the other hand, while great freedom is taken with the orchestrations. Kolektif's Balkanatolia grew up from the meeting of musicians from villages, who are usually playing at fetes and marriage ceremonies in the "homeland", and musicians with improvisation backgrounds from different modern styles but all in Istanbul with the colours of Istanbul.
Richard Laniepce-Saxophone,Bagpipe,Kaval, Asli Dogan-Vocal, Tamer Karaoglu-Accordion, Talat Karaoglu-Clarinet, Ertan Sahin-Tuba, Ediz Hafizoglu-Drums
Yansımalar
In 1980, Birol Yayla and Aziz Şenol Filiz met at the conservatoire. In 1983, they joined the Turkish music chorus. In 1990, they formed Yansımalar: the name is the plural of the Turkish word yansıma (reflection), giving yansımalar (reflections), which as in English means both the reflection of the mirror and the reflection of the mind. Their music, mostly composed by Birol Yayla, is essentially instrumental, though a few pieces feature the sound of voice or breathing. About their music, Mario Levi wrote in his introduction to Pervane, "Some songs speak to you without words. Because those songs have a language. A language with its source in your personal history, or in collective memory. Some songs seem to caress you, and some, in the middle of the night, jar you to your depths. It's a bit as if these songs, with the passing of time, write their stories into you. From the first time I listened to the songs of 'Yansımalar', I have always had this feeling, and for me, this story continues in 'Pervane'. [...]".
A. Şenol Filiz-Ney, Birol Yayla-Guitar- Tanbur, Murat Usanmaz-Guitar, Pınar Duruk-Cello, Erdal Akyol-Kontrabas, Ediz Hafızoğlu-Drums&Percussion
Çağrı Sertel Trio
“Çağrı Sertel Trio” brings trio music a new feel with its unique style and original compositions. Çağrı Sertel combines northern jazz tunes with its own lyrical music sense along with electro – acoustics..
Çağrı Sertel-Rhodes, Keyboards, Synthesizers, Kaan Yıldız-Bass, Ediz Hafızoğlu-Drums
Swing A La Turc
Swing A La Turc gets its inspiration from the idea that ‘the most important common denominator for Turkish music and jazz is improvisation’. The group uses harmonies of Turkish music originating from Istanbul to create an original form of jazz. Fronted by Onder Focan, Swing A La Turc boasts a repertoire of Turkish tunes by musicians from Istanbul, as well as Focan’s own compositions with the same style and approach.
Önder Focan-Guitar, A. Şenol Filiz-Ney, Şenova Ülker-Trumpet, Erdal Akyol-Kontrabass, Ediz Hafızoğlu-Drums