OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK
Honored as a peacemaker and virtuoso, OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK is now one of the most sought-after musicians, whose work transcends political boundaries while maintaining traditional sensibilities in a way few artists can manage.
Omar Faruk was a musical prodigy. He was born in Adana, Turkey to a musical family who nurtured his precocious talents. At the age of eight, he began his musical career by developing proficiency on the kaval, a small diatonic flute. His musical interests were being nurtured by his older brother and by a sympathetic uncle who owned a music store and who provided lessons. Omar Faruk learned the intricate rhythms of Turkish music, how to read scales and eventually he mastered several other instruments; ney (bamboo flute), zurna (double-reed oboe like instrument with buzzing tone), the baglama (long-necked lute), the oud (the classic lute), as well as percussion. By the age of twelve he began performing professionally at local hot spots. At the same time he studied religion with thoughts of becoming a cleric, or Imam.
In 1967, upon turning sixteen, he moved to Istanbul where he and his brother spent the following decade as in-demand session musicians. Omar Faruk stayed true to his folkloric roots, but during this period of frenetic session work in the metropolitan music scene, he explored Arabesque, Turkish, and Western styles and the compositional potential of the recording studio. In Istanbul he also met the Mevlevi Dervishes, the ancient Sufi order of Turkey. He did not join the order, but the head Neyzen (ney player), Aka Gunduz Kutbay, became another source of inspiration. Omar Faruk was profoundly influenced by their mystical approach and fusion of sound and spirit. During that time he was introduced to Hatha Yoga and eventually to Tai Chi, which he continues to practice daily.
Omar Faruk's skills in the studio blossomed in Istanbul playing with some of the leading Turkish musicians of the day including Orhan Gencebay, flute and saxophone player Ismet Siral and percussionist Burhan Tonguc to name a few.
After establishing himself as one of the top session musicians in Turkey, he began touring Europe and Australia. By 1971 at the age of 20, he made his first tour of the United States as a member of a Turkish classical/folk ensemble. It was while touring in the US that he met his future wife, Suzan, and in 1976 he relocated to upstate New York to marry her.
Omar Faruk found very few options for a Turkish musician in the US, so he formed a band called the Sultans with an Egyptian keyboardist, a Greek bouzouki player, and his brother-in-law on percussion. It started as a pop band but very quickly turned into a sort of Pan-Near Eastern ensemble. They began to attract some attention within the circle of Middle Eastern dance fans. They managed to record five albums during this time, but Omar Faruk was still unknown outside his local musical community.
This was all about to change with the fateful meeting with Brian Keane in 1988. In the following years, he and Keane would produce another six recordings together, launching Omar Faruk boldly into the world music scene.
Omar Faruk Tekbilek has since established himself as one of the world's foremost exponents of Middle Eastern music. A multi-instrumentalist par excellence, he has collaborated with a number of leading musicians of international repute such as jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, keyboard player Karl Berger, ex-Cream rock drummer Ginger Baker, Youssou N'Dour, Ofra Haza, Simon Shaheen, Hossam Ramzy, Glen Velez, Bill Laswell, Mike Mainieri, Peter Erskine, Trilok Gurtu, Jai Uttal and Steve Shehan among others. He has contributed to numerous film and TV scores and to many recordings including world sacred music albums, and has been touring extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, Australia, North and South America.
Omar Faruk's music is rooted in tradition, but has been influenced by contemporary sounds. He views his approach as "cosmic" and his commitment to music runs deep. The four corners of his creativity emanate mysticism, folklore, romance, and imagination. Like Omar Faruk himself, his music symbolizes diversity-in-unity.
Awards and Recognitions
» Omar Faruk is the recipient of the 2003 Turkish Music Award for 'Best Artist'
» He is a nominee for the BBC World Music Award 2003 in the category
of the Middle East
» He is the recipient of the people's-choice US Golden Belly -
'Musician-Of-The-Year-Award' in 1998 and 1999
Recordings by Omar Faruk released in the U.S.
Suleyman The Magnificent 1988 Celestial Harmonies
Fire Dance 1990 Celestial Harmonies
World Resonance 1991 Dynamic Recording
Beyond The Sky 1992 Celestial Harmonies
Turath (with Simon Shaheen) 1992 CMP Records
Fata Morgana (with Michael Askill) 1994 Celestial Harmonies
Whirling 1994 Celestial Harmonies
Mystical Garden 1996 Celestial Harmonies
The Best of The Sultans 1998 The Sultans Recording
Crescent Moon 1998 Celestial Harmonies
One Truth 1999 World Class (H.O.S)
Dance into Eternity 2000 Celestial Harmonies
Alif 2002 Narada/Adama
Tree of Patience 2006 White Swan/Alif Records
Ensemble Bios
OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK -
Hailing from the southern Turkish city of Adana, multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a virtuoso on several instruments, including the nay (bamboo flute), zurna (double-reed oboe-like instrument), baglama (long-necked lute), and percussion. Faruk has worked with musicians ranging from Don Cherry and Ginger Baker to Ofra Haza and Youssou N'Dour and he has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls. A brilliant interpreter of Sufi, folk, and contemporary music of the Middle East, he has recorded ten critically acclaimed CDs. His numerous accolades include a 2003 Best Artist of Turkish Music award form the Turkish Writers Association and a nomination for a 2003 BBC World Music Award.
For more information about Omar Faruk, please visit www.omarfaruktekbilek.com
Chris Rosser (keyboards) is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, composer, and producer. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami School of Music, where he studied jazz piano and studio recording. He went on to study Hindustani classical music and the sarod (a 25-string fretless Indian lute) with world famous musician Ali Akbar Khan. Nationally, Rosser has performed solo at festivals and clubs and has shared stages with folk and pop luminaries such as Nickel Creek, John Mayer, Shawn Mullins, John Gorka, David Wilcox, Tom Rush and others.
He owns Hollow Reed Studio in Asheville, North Carolina, and was awarded a songwriter/composer fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council.
Learn more at www.chrisrosser.com
Anthony Mazzella (Guitar) is internationally recognized as one of the most innovative guitar masters to be found on record or stage today. BILLBOARD describes him as "the new generation of guitar hero" and GUITAR ONE voted him "one of the top ten guitarists in the country". At the age of five, Anthony began studying the violin, then proceeded to learn the rudiments of piano until he fell in love with the guitar at age thirteen. Anthony has released four solo CDs, toured extensively nationally and internationally, made guest appearances on major artist's releases, and established a shining presence in the genre of instrumental world music. For details about the musician, visit www.anthonymazella.com
River Guerguerian (Percussion) is also a composer and educator who received his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music Conservatory. For over twenty years, he has been performing professionally all around the world with groups such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, New Music Consort, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, and Talujon Percussion Quartet, which he co-founded. River had also worked with Tan Dun, Sophie B. Hawkins Ziggy Marley and Gipsy Kings. Ever in demand, River has recorded on over fifty albums even as he continues to lead rhythm and sound exploration workshops around the world. His artist web-site can be found at www.guerguerian.com
Murat Tekbilek (Percussion) was Born into a family of musicians. Murat's father, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, as well his maternal and paternal uncles are all professional musicians. From a very young age, Murat played percussion with emphasis on darbuka and bendir. He has traveled alongside his father all over the world and regularly plays with different Middle Eastern groups located near his hometown.
Hasan Isakkut (Kanun) is a celebrated musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist who have performed professionally for over twenty years. Born in Adana, Turkey, into a family of musicians he began studying kanun and keman (violin) at the age of eight with his father. Hasan went on to study and work with some of Turkey's most talented musicians. In 1989, Hasan moved to New York, where he continued his professional career, playing locally and internationally and collaborating with artists such as Brian Keane, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Simon Shaheen, Richie Havens, Ara Dinkjian and Arto Tuncboyaciyan, to name a few. Learn more at www.kibarmusic.com
Chris Wabich - Multi Percussionist
Over the past 30 years Chris Wabich has developed a unique style playing drums and percussion. He combines traditional rhythms and authentic world influences with an updated jazz vocabulary. Chris has received his music degrees from different universities, including a MM from CSU Long Beach. He also has studied under Balkan master drummer Salif Ali (Ivo Paposov) and was awarded the NFAA ARTS award in both jazz and classical categories in 1988.
Chris has been a featured artist with the Percussive Arts Society, teaching workshops at the University of Montana, Iowa, Arizona, California, North Carolina, and CSU Summer Arts Workshops. Chris has performed and recorded with such artists as Ludicris, Sting, Lalo Shifrin, Alex Acuna, and many others. He also has player for such TV shows as "Better Homes & Gardens", "Malcom In the Middle", "MTV music awards" and "American Idol" to name a few. He is endorsed by Cadeson Drums & Percussion Company.
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Artist Web Site
www.omarfaruktekbilek.com
Click here to see a video
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Press Photo & Tech Rider - Omar Faruk
See more tour dates at:
www.omarfaruktekbilek.com
| March 16, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Hamer Hall
Melbourne, Australia
www.theartscentre.net.au |
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| March 17, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Perth Concert Hall
Perth, Australia
www.perthconcerthall.com.au |
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| March 21, 22, 23, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Four Winds Festival
Bermagui, Australia
www.fourwinds.com.au |
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| March 25, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Sydney Opera House
Sydney, Australia
www.sydneyoperahouse.com |
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| April 18, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN |
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| April 19, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN |
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| April 20, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Diana Wortham Theatre
2 South Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
www.dwtheatre.com |
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| May 9, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek with the Taipei Chinese Orchestra |
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Taipei
Taiwan |
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| May 24, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Alicante - Aula de Cultura de la CAM
Spain |
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| May 27, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Zaragoza - Teatro Principal
Spain |
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| May 29, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Santiago - Teatro Principal
Spain |
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| May 30, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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La Coruña - Teatro Colon
Spain |
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| May 31, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Tolosa (Gipuzkoa) - Teatro Leidor
Spain |
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| June 1, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & his Ensemble |
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Gijon - Teatro Jovellanos
Spain |
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| Aug. 17-24, 2008 |
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Omar Faruk Tekbilek & Susan Tekbilek |
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Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp
Mendocino, CA
www.middleeastcamp.com |
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