HiJazz

ALPER BERKSU - Keyboards
Berksü, born in Ankara in 1954, started his professional career after graduating from Istanbul State Conservatory Classical Turkish Music Dept. He has been accompanying famous Turkish singers for 27 years and has worked as a producer on 2 albums.

ERCUMENT ATES - Electric Guitar
One of the most revered guitarists and a member of the legendary pop band “White Butterflies” in late 60's.
Ates was born in 1956. He has worked for years in Ali Peret’s group “Acid Tripin”. He also accompanied Aydin Esen in Istanbul Jazz Players Night Band.

BIROLYAYLA - Tambour
Born in 1960, Yayla entered Istanbul Technical University Classical Turkish Music Dept. in 1980. He joined Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir supported by the Ministery Of Culture to play the “tambour”.
His most famous works “The Reflections” (1992), “Bab-I Esrar” (1995), Serzenis (2000; feat Senol Filiz), and “Vuslat” (2001); with “douduq” player Suren Asadurian.) have been highly appreciated. He has, again with Senol Filiz, prepared 2 more albums featuring classical works in 1998 and has played the "tanbour" and the "kopouz" in Bezmara group in 1999 which focusing on Kantemir and Ali Ufki period.
Yayla took part in the aforementioned groups’ in France and produced album “Splendors of Topkapi” and co-produced their album “After the Lost Sound” with Senol Filiz.

EYLEM PELIT - Bass
Born in Ankara, Pelit entered the Viola Dept. of Istanbul Technical Universit, State Conservatory after primary school. He started to play bass guitar. He has been accompanying outstanding Turkish musicians for a long time and also took part in concerts and jam sessions with Mark Harris, Carl Potter, Jack Tama, Russell Mellon, Aydin Esen, Kerem Gorsev, Fahir Atakoglu and Yildiz Ibrahimova.
Pelit has played at the International Istanbul Jazz Festival as well as the Akbank Jazz Festival with Askin Arsuman Etno Karma Project. He is currently working for the State Modern Folk Music Orchestra supported by Ministery of Culture.

VOLKAN OKTEM - Drums
Born in 1970 in Izmir, Oktem started playing drums when he was 7 years old and played in various groups in Izmir between ages 12-15. In 1993 Oktem moved to Istanbul and played for pop, funk, fusion, jazz and acid jazz groups. Moreover he has joined concerts with Jerry Byrd, Herman Burney, Russell Malone, Baron Browne, Aydin Esen, Erdal Kizilcay, Onder Focan and Tuna Otenel. Having played with Ethno Kartma Band in Istanbul Jazz Festival 2000, Oktem is going on with his studio and concert performances.

SENOVA ULKER - Trumpet
Senova Ulker started his education in trumpet at the Ankara State Conservatory in 1969 and completed it upon his graduation with honors from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 1979. The same year, he auditioned for the Istanbul State Symphony and started to work as the first trumpetist. He currently holds the duty as the principal trumpetist. Besides his classical music career, Senova Ulker is also a jazz musician. He started his jazz performances in 1977 during his student years with a group called, “Jazz Juniors.” He performed in many concerts and jam-sessions with Billy Hart, Buster Williams, Joe Henderson, Arto Tunç, Roy Hargrove, Sammy Figueroa, John Scofield, Bendik Hofseth, Dianne Reeves and Randy Brecker.
Ulker has participated in countless projects throughout his music career and since the ‘70's, he has recorded in countless albums and has performed and toured with many jazz groups

ARTUN SURMELI

SENOL FILIZ