Monika Bulanda
Monika Bulanda (born in Kracow, Poland) is a versatile musician with a multifaceted career in entertainment and art.
She began playing drums at the age of 11 with support of her first teacher Wiesław Piszczynski in Stary Sacz, where she lived as a child. She was the winner of the Provincial Young Talent Competition in Limanowa two times in a row. Already at the age of 16 she appeared on TV show ”Droga Do Gwiazd” that led her to collaboration with female rock/pop band ”Matka” signed to Sony Music.
She graduated from Jazz /Drums Department of Music Conservatory in Katowice as well as from Sinology at Oriental Department of Warsaw University. She also studied Jazz Drums at Chopin School of Music ”Bednarska” under tuition of Kazimierz Jonkisz. Later she performed with Polish pop singer Michal Wisniewski in his project “Red Head” playing drums.
Through her extensive travels she was constantly experimenting with different musical styles while performing with local musicians. Her experiences include places like China, Europe, USA, Australia, India, Malaysia and Turkey.
Monica found that Istanbul— the cultural bridge between East and West— was the perfect environment for herinterests and base for her multi-cultural adventure. She was invited to join the band of Turkish main pop singer Kenan Doğulu and performed with him for 9 years all around the world.
Ferit Odman
Ferit Odman is an in-demand and busy jazz drummer based in Istanbul, Turkey. He started his music studies in Sweden as an AFS exchange student (1999), got a full scholarship to get his B.A. in Music at Istanbul Bilgi University (2001), attended the School For Improvisation workshops in NYC (2004) and received a Fulbright Scholarship to further build on his studies at William Paterson University (2006).
He spent / played two years in NYC and holds a M.M. (Master of Music) degree in Jazz Performance.
He became heavily entrenched in the Turkish jazz scene at a young age and recently performs with many jazz musicians, while leading his own quintet and touring around Europe.
Albums as a leader:
- Ferit Odman – The Vinyl Collection (2017 – Equinox Music & Entertainment)
- Ferit Odman – Dameronia With Strings (2015 – Equinox Music & Entertainment)
- Ferit Odman – Autumn In New York (2011 – Equinox Music & Entertainment)
- Ferit Odman – Nommo (2010 – Equinox Music & Entertainment)
Ferit Odman exclusively plays and endorses Gretsch Drums, Vic Firth Drum Sticks & Istanbul Agop Cymbals.
Cenk Ünnü
Cenk Ünnü (born 1967 in Istanbul, Turkey) is the drummer of the heavy metal band Mezarkabul (also known as Pentagram). He and Hakan Utangaç formed Pentagram together in 1986. He graduated from İstanbul University’s Faculty of Literature, Anthropology. He lives in Istanbul and runs an underground music store called Pena.
Asli Polat
Volkan Öktem
Volkan Öktem was born on 25 June 1970 in İzmir, Turkey. His interest in music started at the age of 7.
In 1985 he moved to Ankara. With his growing interest and success in music, he had the opportunity to work with many rock and pop bands there. He developed the basis of his unique and exceptional style by playing in several genres, including Turkish music forms (Turkish classical music and Turkish folk music). His enthusiasm for jazz music soon showed itself and he played drums in various jazz gigs.
He moved to Istanbul in 1994 due to the offers that followed the spread of his fame and played in over 200 albums, such as “Tarkan, Şebnem Ferah, Mirkelam, Sezen Aksu, Kenan Doğulu, etc.” In 1996 he signed his first project with the ethnic jazz band Habbecik and took part in many concerts and festivals with them and made the album “An Meselesi”.
In 1999 Volkan had the opportunity to exhibit his different style by joining the band Laço Tayfa, which blended traditional forms of Turkish music with western forms such as jazz, funk, and reggae. He appeared in the albums “Bergama Gaydası” and “Hicaz Dolap” with Laço Tayfa. He played in clubs, concerts and festivals with many singers, bands, and musicians in Turkey and abroad, including Muvaffak Muffy Falay, Sibel Köse, Elvan Tool, Aydın Esen, Aşkın Arsunan, Bendik Hofseth, Dave Allen, İlhan Erşahin, Quartet Muartet, John Scofield, Dianne Reeves, Guillaume Perret, Nils Petter Molvaer, Marius Neset and Erik Truffaz.
Currently, Volkan performs with various musicians in Turkey and abroad while touring and recording with top Turkish pop artist Tarkan as well as his own projects.
Lale Kardeş
Lale Kardeş, best known for her band The Ringo Jets, studied Jazz Drums at Bilgi University and she joined forces with artists such as Anadol and İlhan Erşahin, when she wasn’t busy touring with her band, TRJ. She usually plays in the styles of the 60s and 70s and holds a rare title as the first female drummer with her own signature cymbal series from Turkish Cymbals.