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Ömer Faruk Tekbilek was born in Adana in 1951. He is also known as Omar Faruk Tekbilek. At the age of eight, he began his musical career by developing proficiency on kaval (small diatonic flute). His musical interests were being nurtured by his older brother and by a sympathetic uncle who owned a music store and provided lessons. While working in the store, Tekbilek learned the intricate rhythms of Turkish music and how to read scales, and other rudiments. He was trained on and eventually mastered several instruments such as ney (bamboo flute), zurna (double-reed oboe like instrument with buzzing tone), baglama (long-necked lute), oud (classic lute), as well as percussion. By the age of twelve, he began performing professionally at local hot spots.
In 1967, Tekbilek moved to Istanbul, where he and his brother spent the following decade as in-demand session musicians. He stayed true to his folkloric roots, but during this period of frenetic session work in the metropolitan music scene, Tekbilek explored Arabesque, Turkish, and Western styles and the compositional potential of the recording studio. In Istanbul, he also met the Mevlevi Dervishes, the ancient Sufi order of Turkey and was inspired by the head Neyzen (ney player), Aka Gunduz Kutbay. Takbilek was profoundly influenced by their mystical approach and fusion of sound and spirit.
He has played with some of the leading Turkish musicians of the day including Orhan Gencebay, flute and saxophone player Ismet Siral, percussionist Burhan Tonguc and singers Ahmet Sezgin, Nuri Sesiguzel, Mine Kosan and Huri Sapan. After establishing himself as one of the top session musicians in Turkey, Tekbilek began touring Europe and Australia. By 1971, he made his first tour of the United States as a member of a Turkish classical / folk ensemble. Tekbilek founded a group called “the Sultans” with an Egyptian keyboardist, a Greek bouzouki player, and his brother-in-law on percussion. It started as a pop band but very quickly turned into a sort of Pan-Near Eastern ensemble. They began to attract some attention within the circle of Middle Eastern dance fans. They managed to record five albums during this time. In 1988, he met with Brian Keane and produced another six recordings together in following years. In 1998 and 1999, Tekbilek received the US Golden Belly Musician of the Year Award.
As one of the world′s foremost exponents of Middle Eastern music, Tekbilek 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. Tekbilek has contributed to numerous film and TV scores and many recordings including world sacred music albums. He has been touring extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, Australia, North and South America.
In 2003, Tekbilek was awarded the "Best Artist of the Turkish Music Award 2003” by the Turkish Writers Association. In the same year, he was nominated to the BBC World Music Award 2003 in the category of the Middle East. Tekbilek’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 emanate mysticism, folklore, romance, and imagination. Like Tekbilek himself, his music symbolizes diversity-in-unity.
Albums:
Best of Sultans (1986)
Suleyman The Magnificent (1988)
Fire Dance (1990)
Beyond The Sky (1992)
Whirling (1994)
Fata Morgana (1995) Michael Askill with Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Mystical Garden (1996)
Crescent Moon (1998)
One Truth (1999) (I Love You) – (ZET)
Dance into Eternity – selected pieces (2000)
Alif (2001) – (ZET)
Tree of Patience (2005) – (ZET)
Sunset Lounge 4 (2009)
Rare Elements (Remixes) (2009)
Kelebek “The Butterfly” (2009) – (ZET)
Reference: omarfaruktekbilek.com, tr.wikipedia.org
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