TURKU, Nomads of the Silk Road
Salisbury, North Carolina, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"Judging from the energy the group displays in concert and the foot stomping, body swaying response they generate among the crowd-Turku may be on to something....Turku Delights!"
- Creative Loafing
"The audience thought Turku was magnificent...Turku is a guaranteed crowd pleaser!" Jeffery Black, Producer
- Cypress After 5
"Their playing is inspired, even striding into the realm of virtuosic, with an obvious ability for improvisation and a good sense of how to build a piece. The material is high-energy, and there is an emphasis on upbeat numbers."
- Dirty Linen
"Nomads of the Silk Road is fiery yet inviting, expansive in it's outlook but accessible in it's delivery. Highly recommended." "Their music is fullfilling in every way that music can be." Dan Cook, Editor - Free Times
"We get about 75 new albums a DAY coming in here now, (about 30,000 total), and yours is one of the best I've ever heard." " An absolutely invigorating and mesmerizing album of the edgy, biting, yet enchanting and lucid music of Turkish, Kurdish, Azeri, and Anatolian peoples. Using all traditional instruments, including several types of Saz, Violin, Oud, Tar and various types of percussion such as 'Davul, dumbek, djembe, and riq, their virtuosic playing coheres for a penetrating, unforgettable experience. Having gained recognition throughout the US as a notable World Music ensemble, Turku is at the forefront of bringing the world's remarkable musical diversity home."
- CD Baby
Discography
Alleys of Istanbul, CD, 1998, Hittite Sun Records
Nomads of the Silk Road, CD, 2000, Hittite Sun Records
Aksaray'n Taslari, EP, 2003, Hittite Sun Records
Ozlem, CD, 2004, Hittite Sun Records
TURKU ALIVE 1999, Concert Video, Hittite Sun Records
TURKU, Nomads of the Silk Road Live, 2000, Concert Video, HSR
Photos
Bio
TURKU was founded in 1996 in Columbia, South Carolina by Balkan music enthusiasts Ted & Carla Monnich. Ted Monnich was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA of Eastern European ancestry. Growing up with the language, food, customs and music imbued in Monnich an appreciation of ethnic origins. When Monnich heard Balkan music he was even more enthused... thinking things might get "even better" if he listened further east to Turkey... he tuned in to Turkish folk music and really got excited, in 1995 traveled to Istanbul and bought his first saz (an ancient Central Asian lute) and never looked back. Over 15 years, and three saz teachers, later, Ted Monnich is firmly ensconced as an American saz virtuoso and teacher. Carla's background was Eastern dance, having studied classical Indian, Middle Eastern, Romany, and Balkan. She brought dance to TURKU and worked with the groups early dance troupes. Carla also adopted the Turkish davul bass drum, lending an unusual syncopation that has become the "TURKU Sound." TURKU's first drummer was Farzad Farhangi, but when we heard him pick up a violin and play, we never let him put it down. A native of Gilan province in Northern Iran, Farzad studied classical Persian music throughout his youth, eventually performing in the Royal Youth Orchestra for the Shah of Iran. Farzad has also recorded and released several of his own superb solo recordings. Farzad is the preeminent virtuoso of the group. It's good that Farzad put down the drum because it gave TURKU the opportunity to meet and adopt virtuoso and scholar hand drummer Daveed Korup. Daveed plays Darbuka and djembe. He has released several solo projects including the groundbreaking rhythm project Seeds of Time. Filling out the bottom of TURKU's sound is its newest member Behyar Behipour. A native of Tehran, Behyar has performed in bands worldwide. His sensitive ear, and deft execution provides the sonic foundation upon which TURKU builds its music palace.
Links
