Virtuoso of many instruments such as ney, zurna, baglama, oud, percussion, Omar Faruk Tekbilek follows the roads of tradition of the East, but has been influenced by contemporary sounds.
"Music for me is not something to show off. It’s my life. It’s the shortest path to God. Playing is prayer for me" he has said.
He recorded and appeared with excellent musicians such as Don Cherry, Karl Berger, Ginger Baker, Ofra Haza, Simon Shaheen, Brian Keane and many others.
He has given several concerts in Greece and collaborated with various Greek artists such as Glykeria, Michalis Nikoloudis and Iasis.
Born at Adana in 1951 he was engaged in music very young. At the age of sixteen he went to Istanbul where his elder brother was living and worked training himself together with some of the most significant Turkish musicians. At the same time he met the Order Mevlevi Dervishes, whose head and ney player was an additional inspiration. By the age of twenty he was known in Turkey and made his first tour in US as member of a group.
Omar Faruk Tekbilek and the Whirling Dervishes invite us to become part of the universe using the language of music in two concerts with the New Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki under Kabanis Samaras
Date
30 May 2009Starting time
21:00Location
Megaron The Athens Concert Hall
