Piano Days features renowned Turkish musician
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Aydın Esen takes the stage for Akbank Piano days on Nov 29 at Akbank Art Center.
Famous Turkish pianist Aydın Esen will perform Nov. 29 at the Akbank Art Center.
Esen, who has toured Europe with different ensembles, has worked as a studio musician and is one of the most famous pianists in the world.
He made his mark in the music world through tours and recordings with Miroslav Vitous, Woody Shaw, Can Kozlu, Randy K., Vinnie Colaiuta, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Anthony Jackson, Steve Smith, Baron Browne, Frank Gambale, Kai Eckhardt, Peter Herbert, Dave Liebman, Peter Erskine, Tiger Okoshi, Gary Burton, Daniel Humair, George Garzone, Mino Cinelu, Michel Portal, Trilok Gurtu and many others from the world’s music scene.
His record “Trio” with Eddie Gomez and Marcello Pellitteri was well received in 1986. The same year he formed the group “Transfusion” with Tommy Campbell, Eckhardt and Randy K. In 1986 Esen toured Europe with Vitous, Pellitteri and Shaw.
In 1987, along with Okoshi, Vitous, Bob Mintzer and Bob Moses, Esen toured Japan for a month. Later he worked with and extensively toured with bass player Jonas Hellborg and drummer Kenwood Dennard. In the early 1990s he once again teamed up with Vitous and went on tour with Trilok Gurtu for about one year.
Esen has received numerous awards for composition, keyboards and electronic music. In 1989 he received the first prize at the International Piano Competition in Paris, one of his most treasured and important awards.
In 1989 he recorded “So Many Lifetimes” with Randy K., Francis Bourrec, Peter Herbert and Kozlu. The album received worldwide acclaim and was chosen as record of the year. Esen was invited to play on “Timezones” with Austrian guitar player Wolfgang Mutspiel and Bob Berg.
In 1990, the new record “Aydın Esen” came out. Esen played in Paris, toured Europe and Japan, always being received with great excitement. His recording “Pictures” with Mick Goodrick, George Garzone, Kozlu and Herbert was selected as album of the year (1990) in Japan. Esen produced the record “My Heart” with Campbell, Charnett Moffett and Kevin Eubanks.
Esen’s work with Randy Esen, electronic compositions and ongoing world tours keep him very busy
