Okay Temiz Trio - 1975 - Turkish-Folk-Jazz

Okay Temiz Trio

1975

Turkish-Folk-Jazz

01. Taksim 3:07

02. a. Introduction 1:449

    b. Batum 10:55

    c. Ulah-Balkan 5:10

03. Döktür 7:50

04. Kürt Havasi 0:45

05. Madimak 0:28

06. Üsküdar 1:37

07. Anadol Havasi 3:30

08. Trabzon Karsilamasi 2:50

09. Laz Havasi 1:15

Bass – Björn Alke

Clarinet – Saffet ündeger

Drums, Percussion – Okay Temiz

A2.b is traditional Turkish folk material collected by Maffy Falay. The rest of the titles except A1 and A2.a are traditional Turkish folk material collected by Okay Temiz.

A1 recorded March 6th, 1974 at Lützengatan 12, Stockholm. The rest is recorded March 25th, 1974 at "Guldhatten", Stockholm, Sweden.

Track B7 "Laz Havasi" not appearing on side B center label.

Okay Temiz studied percussion and graduated from Ankara Classical Music Conservatory. His interest in music came early as he grew up listening to his mother, Naciye Temiz, play Turkish classical music on oud. He became a professional musician in 1955.

Equipped with the knowledge of Western and Middle Eastern rhythms, he left Turkey for the first time in 1960s. Performing with a Turkish band (Ulvi Temel’s orchestra) and Okay Sextet, he toured Europe during 1967-68 and came to Sweden in 1967, returning in 1969 to join the Don Cherry Trio. Okay was with Don Cherry and Dyani for a year; forming the Don Cherry Trio. Before joining Dyani for Music for Xaba, he was with Sevda until the summer of 1972. He rejoined Sevda a year later.

Since 1967, Temiz established several groups: Sevda, Music for Xaba (Africa Combination), Oriental Wind, Okay Temiz Ensemble, and Magnetic Band (Tziganes). He has played at over 3000 concerts and have been a part of over 250 festivals. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio stations in Turkey and abroad. His discography includes over 40 recordings.

Temiz has been experimenting with folk jazz tradition around the world since 1967, at times working with avant-garde musicians in search of multi-cultural synthesis. His work expanded in Europe and he gained international recognition especially after Oriental Wind albums. Temiz blends traditional Turkish folk melodies with improvisonal art sometimes conveniently labeled as jazz. Temiz’s music combines African, Indian, South American rhythms together with Turkish rhythms, creating a unique sound. Originally a jazz drummer, Temiz also uses non-western instruments from all over the world. His collection includes instruments such as quicca, berimbau, talking drums and kalimba. In fact, he has even built instruments to play with. At times, his music also included latest technological equipments such as synthesizers.

Temiz has been living in Scandinavian countries since 1967. After a long residence in Sweden, he moved to Finland in 1993.