NEW
YORK (www.mareya.com) - Turiya Mareya began studying Jazz at 15 years
of age. She was originally mentored by San
Diego Jazz legend Daniel
Jackson, Mareya followed his example by becoming proficient on both
piano and reeds and focusing on playing her original compositions. She
continued her work in New York, studying at the Creative School of
Music with The Art Ensemble of
Chicago and studied privately with
Joseph Jarman. Later she toured Mexico with the Tambu International
Ensemble. All of those experiences help mold her unique approach based
on World
Music influences and drawing on the trance inducing and spirit
calling focus of African and Indigenous approaches to music. She honed
her abilities in Latin Jazz heading the Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble.
She is currently based in Toronto Canada. Her latest release on the
Jazz Arts Label is La Luz Eterna and is available on CD Baby.
The
Kokopelli Latin Jazz Ensemble is one of the most creative and popular
groups in Southern California. Kokopelli performed for 6 years at
Croce's Jazz Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego. Festival
appearances include: The Big Sur Jazz Festival, The Idyllwild Jazz
Festival, and The Calle Diez Latin Festival. They have opened up for
Eddie Palmieri, Pancho Sanchez, Arturo Sandoval, Jane Bunnet and The
Spirits of Havana.
David Millard- Alto Flute, C Flute, Alto Violin, Guitar
Fermin Rivero- Tenor Saxophone
Dylan Savage- Drums
Gene Perry- Congas
Steve Haney- Percussion
Ignacio Arango- Bass
Luisa Corredor- Vocals
https://mareya.comOmar 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.
He is a virtuoso on several instruments: The nay
(bamboo flute), the zurna (double-reed oboe like instrument), the
baglama (long-necked lute) and percussions, as well as a masterful
performer on dozens more. Omar Faruk brilliantly interprets the Sufi,
Folk, and Contemporary music of the Middle East.
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 and 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. 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 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, 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 emanates mysticism, folklore,
romance, and imagination. Like Omar Faruk himself, his music symbolizes
