Volkan Öztem is one of Turkey’s foremost jazz and pop percussionists. His playing has both technical excellence and subtlety – he varies the timing of the cymbal hits each time the main theme of the piece comes round, whether anyone notices his craftsmanship or not. It is hardly surprsing, therefore, that his services should be in great demand in the world of pop: Turkey’s foremost pop stars queue up to engage him. His group on this occasion consists of Ercüment Orkut (keyboards), Barış Doğukan Yazıcı (trumpet), Halil İbrahim Işık (keyboards, trumpet), Serhat Şensesli (bass guitar) and – of course – himself on drums.
Issue 66, December 2023
Turkey’s Centenary Issue
