Recognized worldwide as a virtuosic percussionist Burhan Öçal has made the bridging of musical cultures his central mission. A native of Kirklareli in Thrace region, he grew up in a musical family. From his father, he learned a variety of percussion instruments, while his mother introduced him to religious vocal music. After his first contact with Western music, he became interested in combining other genres and cultural traditions, such as jazz and Western classical music, with his own.
Burhan Öçal’s instruments are as diverse as his music. In addition to a wide variety of percussion, such as the Darbuka
(a vase-shaped drum played with the fingers), Kös (kettle drum), Kudüm and Bendir, he is a highly skilled player on a number of stringed instruments, including the Divan-Saz, Tanbur and Ud. His expressive voice adds to the spectrum of musical elements at his command...
Öçal has become widely known for touring and recording with his Oriental Ensemble, who performs traditional gypsy and Turkish folk music. As a much sought after musicians, he has also performed with Maria, Joao Pires, Joe Zawinul and Eliot Fisk.

Burhan Öçal made his US debut in February 1998 joining Eliot Fisk for performances in Los Angeles. Shortly after, he toured with George Gruntz Band, performing at the Montreal Jazz Festival, in Vancouver, at the Ravinia Festival, and at the Knitting Factory (NYC). Other highlights of his engagements have included two performances with the Istanbul Oriental Ensemble at 1998 WOMAD Festival (U.K) and three performances with the Ensemble at EXPO’ 98 in Lisbon. He also gave a solo performance in London at the Royal Festival Hall at Rhythm Sticks (1998).

Öçal’s 2000 season was highlighted by a series of major concerts: In March 2000, he released in Europe and in Turkey a tour with George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band special guest with Burhan Öçal. Then he appeared at the St. Irene Museum withnin the Istanbul Music Festival and in San Fransisco with Kronos Quartet. At the Istanbul Jazz Festival, in July, he was one of the guest stars along with Djivan Gasparian playing with Andreas Vollenweinder. His second project in this festival was “Meditroni” featuring Massilia Sound System. In October 2000, he performed at Womex, in Berlin, accompanied by his group Istanbul Oriental Ensemble.

His album, “Groove Alla Turca” (1999-Doublemoon), in which he collaborated with the American bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma featuring Natacha Atlas, was first released in France by Birds and Blues (2001) and then in North America by Night and Day. Burhan Öçal in 2001 did two big tour in Europe with “Groove Alla Turca”. He appeared on the General Motors Big Event, at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, together with Istanbul Oriental Ensemble and the special guest participation of Mercan Dede, in a concert of exceptional acclaim called “East Meets West” watched by 150.000. Again in July 2001, at the Istanbul Jazz Festival, Burhan Öçal shared the stage with Sting. In April 2002, Burhan Öçal with Istanbul Oriental Ensemble toured the USA with ICM.

Burhan Öçal won several awards including German Record Critic’s Award with Oriental Ensemble (1995), another one with Sultan’s Secret Door and Prix Choc for his solo album “Ottoman Garden,” (1996).

His “Trakya All Stars” is a highly special project where Öçal collaborates with master musicians from Thrace region, paying tribute to the musical heritage of his birthplace. The Roman-Balkan influenced album possesses a timeless character which manages to take deep tradition to a contemporary level. It is produced by the Tunisian born French musician, sound engineer and producer Smadj, highly respected for his knowledge of oriental music and for his digital innovations.

His latest appearance was with the flamenco guitar virtuso Paco de Lucia at Istanbul International Jazz Festival (2004).

A second collaboration with Pete Namlook, a prolific composer in contemporary electronica and the founder of Fax label of “ambient/chill out” was released in November 2004 as a tribute to Sultan Orhan. His next album “ The new dream” is released on Doublemoon Records in June 2005.

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Tracklist:
01 - Nihavend Longa
02 - Habibi
03 - Groove Alla Turca
04 - Elhamdulillah
05 - El Nino
06 - Two By Two
07 - Kismet
08 - I Can Feel It
09 - Katibim
10 - Saz Caz
11 - Gene Gel
12 - Later For Now

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Tracklist:
01 - Hicaz Humayun Taksim
02 - Hicaz Humayun Pesrev
03 - Hicaz Humayun Nideyim Sahn
04 - Nihavend Taksim
05 - Nihavend Vucud Ikliminin Sultanisin Sen
06 - Rast Taksim
07 - Rast Bir Gonlume
08 - Evic Taksim
09 - Evic Bir Sebeple Gucenmisin
10 - Evic Sahane Gozler
11 - Suzi Dilara Pesrev
12 - Suzi Dilara Cini Giyusuna
13 - Suzinar Taksim
14 - Suzinar Pesrev
15 - Suzinar Cam I Askin
16 - Segah Taksim
17 - Segah Pesrev
18 - Segah Semi Ruhuna
19 - Segah Semi Ruhuna
20 - Segah Ben Bu Aska

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Tracklist:
01 - Rast Pesrev Du Sems
02 - Amed Nesimi
03 - Rast Pesrev
04 - Taksim Ney Et Kemence
05 - Segah Saz Semaisi
06 - Segah Kar
07 - Taksim Udgul Yuzlulerin
08 - Nat-I-Serif
09 - Taksim Ney Et Kemence
10 - Hicaz Ayin
11 - Taksim Ud
12 - Goctu Kervan
13 - Taksim Kanun & Sehnaz Longa

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Tracklist:
01 - Bogazici
02 - Yeni Sark Ruyasi
03 - Cile Bulbulum
04 - Seyhin Ruyasi
05 - Ben Aglarken
06 - Beklenen Resim
07 - Ben Seni Unutmak Icin Sevmedim
08 - Buyulu Dans

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Tracklist:
01 - Akdeniz Kenarinda
02 - Deniz Rahatsiz
03 - Soguk Su'da
04 - Tim Tim
05 - Hikaye
06 - Pakistan Tarafi
07 - Özbek Tatar Türk Düğünü
08 - Ozumuz Bir
09 - Ve Veda

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Tracklist:
01 - Katar (Caravan)
02 - Carsida (In The Bazaar)
03 - Hali Dokuyan Kiz (Girl Knotting A Carpet)
04 - Bozkirda Dugun (Wedding In The Plains)
05 - Gelinin Oynamasi (The Brides Dance)
06 - Basbasa (Alone Together)
07 - Ates Basinda (By The Campfire)
08 - Askin Sarabi (Love Potion)
09 - Ya Kerim! (Oh, Mercy)
10 - Kor Gibi Darbuka (Smouldering Darbuka)
11 - Orient Ekspres (Orient Express)

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Tracklist:
01 - Hicaz Oyun Havasi
02 - Hicaz Oriental
03 - Hicazkar Taksim Oud
04 - Hicazkar Oyun Havasi
05 - Rast Balat
06 - Nihavent Taksim Keman
07 - Nihavent Oyun Havasi
08 - Hicazkar Sahin Oyun Havasi
09 - Ussak Taksim
10 - Bahriyeli Çiftetellisi
11 - Zennube
12 - Muhayyer Kurdi Saz Semaisi
13 - Klarnet Taksim
14 - Roman Oyun Havasi

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Tracklist:
01 - Elden Ele (From Hand To Hand)
02 - Pasa Selim (Pascha Selim)
03 - Kapali Carsi (Grand Bazaar)
04 - Rakkase (The Belly Dancer)
05 - Mavi Keman (Blue Violin)
06 - Gece Yarisinda Pazar (Bazaar At Night)
07 - Kanun-Name (Kanun Improvisation)
08 - Roxelanin Sesi (Roxelana's Cry)
09 - Sultan-I Ask (The Love Of The Sultan)
10 - Istanbulda Gece (Istanbul By Night)

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Tracklist:
01 - Mahur Oriental
02 - Nihavent Oriental
03 - Nihavent Oyun Havasi
04 - Roman 2
05 - Fasulye
06 - Sultaniyegah Sirto
07 - Roxelana
08 - Eve Donus
09 - Ke Jati Den Ma To Les - Ta Leftaindim Havuz Basina

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Tracklist:
01 - Part I
02 - Part II
03 - Part III
04 - Part IV
05 - Part V
06 - Part VI
07 - Part VII

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Tracklist:
01 - Yenilik
02 - Bölüm I
03 - Bölüm II
04 - Bölüm III
05 - Bölüm IV
06 - Bölüm V
07 - Bölüm VI
08 - Bölüm VII
09 - Bölüm VIII
10 - Gel Gör Beni Aşk Neyledi

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Tracklist:
01 - Bölüm 1
02 - Bölüm 2
03 - Bölüm 3
04 - Bölüm 4
05 - Bölüm 5
06 - Bölüm 6
07 - Bölüm 7

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Tracklist:
01 - Tekirdag Karsilamasi
02 - Suleyman Aga
03 - Ferace
04 - Karakas Mahallesi
05 - Gara Guna
06 - Melike
07 - Ciftetelli
08 - Coban
09 - Gures Havasi - Davullarim Calar Caydan Asagi

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Tracklist:
01 - Kara Cali
02 - Karabiber
03 - Kayinco
04 - Opaz
05 - Hovarda Mustafa
06 - Sulo
07 - Supheli Ask
08 - Zigos
09 - Limoncu
10 - Isirgan Otu
11 - Smadj'la Sohbet
12 - Opaz (Smadj Mix)