Evren Ozan

Artist Information

Biography

I discovered the Native American flute when I was 6 years old on a cross country road trip with my family. I bought a cedar flute at a tourist stand at the Grand Canyon, and taught myself to play. My first album, Images of Winter, was recorded when I was 7, and at 8 I was a featured performer at the Native American Music Awards, where I won "Rising Star." My second album, As Things Could Be, was recorded when I was 9 and nominated in best instrumental and best new age categories at the Native American Music Awards, where I received a second "Rising Star." My newest album, "ALLUVIA," was recorded just before I turned 13, and was named one of the Twelve Best New Age/World Fusion Recordings of 2006 by New Age Reporer, and won "Best Instrumental" from the Inland Empire Music Awards. I have performed in all kinds of venues throughout the US and in Alaska, England, Belgium and Germany, and performed with several world class musicians. I've appeared in many journals, including National Geographic, and continue to study and perform.
I was named a Davidson Fellow in Music in the summer of 2005 and have studied theory with Stanford University's EPGY program, and improvisation with BerkleeMusic.

Instrumentation

I play many different Native American flutes and drones. Depending on the performance, I play unaccompanied solo, to CD playback, or for gigs in New England, with the band that worked with me on my latest album. Some of the other instruments include acoustic and electric guitars, dijeridoo, keyboards, fretless bass, electric oud, bouzouki, Mbira, djembe, tabla, drums.

Discography

Images of Winter, Ozan Music, full length CD, 2001
As Things Could Be, Ozan Music, full length CD, 2003
Alluvia, Ozan Music, full length CD, 2006

Official Website

http://www.ozanmusic.com

Audio

Lyrics

• Nebula

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• ALLUVIA [+ Show ]
  

  Sometimes, an artist's talent and vision startles me. Evren Ozan is one such artist. This thirteen...Sometimes, an artist's talent and vision startles me. Evren Ozan is one such artist. This thirteen year old is the epitome of the word "prodigy." When I first listened to his latest release, ALLUVIA, I was so awestruck that I sincerely wondered if he was as young as he appeared to be and was stated on his website. Call me a doubting Thomas, but no disrespect was meant on my part. It's just that this is such a mature, self-assured, and diverse recording and Evren's (I can't bring myself to call him by his last name) flute playing is so good. Well, I doubt no longer! Evren Ozan is the real deal and I can only wonder at what's going to happen if he gets better at his art!
  Turning to the CD itself, on ALLUVIA, the wooden/Native American flutist continues to evolve his music, this time paring down some of the more frenetic cross-cultural fusion elements of his last recording, As Things Could Be (e.g. no didgeridoo) and slimming down production somewhat in favor of a leaner more contemporary jazz fusion sound, mixing uptempo workouts laced with funky beats (and occasionally introducing world beat elements or overt Native American textures) along with a few quieter introspective pieces. His adroit, passionate, and at times playful flute work still abounds (maybe even more so than on the last CD). However, the compositions here (which are all co-written with producer and accompanying musician Mac Ritchey, and occasionally others as well) are more mature, less "busy" with more room for natural improvisation (without leading to pointless noodling). While some tracks are plenty energizing, there are also shades of mystery and darkness filtered in amongst the toe-tapping rhythms and melodies (there's even a quasi-ambient album cut, Shavasanah, which ends the album in spectacular fashion). Unique use of synthesizers (not just the standard string embellishments or textures) can be heard at the periphery of some songs, such as on the uptempo opening Belle's Quirky Independence which features whirly-gigging retro synth sounds.
  Besides Ritchey (on guitars, bass, drums, percussion and synths), other musicians on the CD include Michael Dailak and Simeon Darley-Chapin on percussion, Andrew Dow on bas, and Daniel Thompson, who provides an "ambient bed" for the closing track, Shavasanah. With twelve diverse songs on Alluvia, detailed descriptions of the individual tracks would not fit in my allotted review space. I'll highlight a few, thought. to give you a thumbnail picture just the same. Taval marries haunting lilting flute to assorted propulsive percussion, thumping bass, and bouzouki (a guitar-like stringed instrument). Loss is an appropriately morose, somber duet of Evren's Native flute and Ritchey's plaintive bouzouki. Chiaroscuro, a low-key yet mellow tune on flute, acoustic guitar, djembe and bass, aptly capture the meaning of the word ("the distribution of light and shade in a picture:). Two if By Camel kicks up its heels with a trippy light-hearted blend of funky fun and ethnic fusion elements. I challenge you to resist the soulful jazz riffing and rhythms of The Climb (I love that thumping bass and organ -- shades of Herbie Mann!) or the pan-African joy of Alpenglow. They're both excellent tracks!
  At times evoking comparisons to no less than the seminal world fusion/new age band Shadowfax (e.g. An Ephemeral Dream), Evren Ozan and his crew light it up throughout ALLUVIA. This young man displays talent and artistry far beyond his years and Ritchey et al. provide not just ample support by come together with the flutist to form a symbiotic whole which is much more than the sum of their individual parts. ALLUVIA blelw my socks off and then some. It earns my highest recommendation and, for me, it's absolutely in the running for album of the year.
  
  Bill Binkelman, Binkelman's Corner
  NEW AGE REPORTER 12/4/2006

• ALLUVIA: Evren Ozan [+ Show ]
  

  Review by Sandra Hale Schulman Prodigy flute player Evren Ozan is growing up right before ou...Review by Sandra Hale Schulman
  
  Prodigy flute player Evren Ozan is growing up right before our ears. In this complex, sophisticated new album, he emerges as an aural world traveler, absorbing the sounds and influences of African and American jazz while combining them with his Native roots....Now 13, Evren has been playing flute for almost half his life.....
  December 25, 2006
  For full text, please see "reviews" at www.ozanmusic.com

• New Age Journal [+ Show ]
  

  I have to tell you that this CD just completely BLEW ME AWAY!!! This is a beautiful, soulful, FANTA...I have to tell you that this CD just completely BLEW ME AWAY!!! This is a beautiful, soulful, FANTASTIC CD featuring Native American Flutist Evren Ozan. At only 10 years of age, Evren has developed a talent that far exceeds artists many times his senior! He is a master of the Native American Flute! You don't get any better than this...a must have.

• Wind and Wire [+ Show ]
  

  You don't see many child prodigies in new age music, that's for damn sure. Evren Ozan is one, thoug...You don't see many child prodigies in new age music, that's for damn sure. Evren Ozan is one, though. At only ten, he's already been playing the Native American cedar flute for several years (since he was six) and has accomplished more in four years than a lot of musicians do in their entire adult lives. If I hadn't listened to this album, I would've thought this was all hype. But it isn't; I literally stopped what I was doing (raking leaves this past fall) when I first played the CD. I had to check to make sure this was indeed the album I had put in the CD player. The kid looked so young! Yep, it's him and man, can the boy play. He demonstrates a lot of talent on the CD's twelve tracks (all of which he composed!) -- Bill Benkelman

• 2005 Davidson Fellow in Music [+ Show ]
  

  Prodigious innate music making and command of the flutes are what makes Evren's portfolio impressive...Prodigious innate music making and command of the flutes are what makes Evren's portfolio impressive. Remarkable exploration of the possibilities of the Native American cedar flute. Evren commands the respect of musicians much older than him. It is possible that Evren will be able to take these flutes into the future and establish them as important instruments in the 21st century that many more people understand and play. He shows enormous creativity and prodigious performances. While they are improvised the maturity exhibited is very powerful. Both the regular and the drone flutes are such unique instruments. [If he continues his musical] development I believe he will do more for the cedar flute than anyone else has done before.
  Judge's Comments

• New Age World Music [+ Show ]
  

  Evren Ozan, a 10 year old Native American flute player dubbed as "an old soul returned to the People...Evren Ozan, a 10 year old Native American flute player dubbed as "an old soul returned to the People," recently released his second CD, appropriately named "As Things Could Be." Evren's insightful compositions and soulful playing leads you on a spiritual journey that respectfully acknowledges the past and respects ancient wisdoms by shaping their messages thus reflecting a future of harmony. A gift of inspiration, the melodies are a dynamic dance that soar with life and calm with blessings while the adventurous rhythms of world percussion instruments offer unity. Don't let his age fool you...this young artist is packed with a huge dose of Talent!!!!!His talent is endless. He must indeed be an "old soul" to be able to play with such soul and meaning. This is one CD that you just can't pass up.

• ALLUVIA [+ Show ]
  

  .....Listening to Evren's new album gives one a sense of hope and rebirth, a feeling that the future........Listening to Evren's new album gives one a sense of hope and rebirth, a feeling that the future is indeed bright and that young artists of this world will necessarily continue to produce meaningful contributions..
  
  (for full text, please see press section at www.ozanmusic.com)

Setlist

The set list depends on the venue. I can play in an ambient setting, or concert. I tailor the program depending on the event and audience, but generally I start off very mellow with an unaccompanied Native American flute solo, then gradually build in energy playing to different tracks from both albums, and end with a very dynamic piece. My sets can last anywhere up to 60 minutes.
I've played at museums, concert halls, festivals,
environmental events, galleries, churches, schools, etc., and I shape each program according to the event.

Basic Requirements

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