Atilla Engin
Encyclopedia
Atilla Engin is a Turkish American
fusion jazz musician. From 1974 to 2001 he was active in Denmark
as a musician and educator; he organized music festivals and represented Denmark as a musical ambassador. In 2001, he left Denmark for the United States
, where he formed an orchestra.
, moving to Copenhagen
in 1974, and playing with several groups. He released his first album Turkish Delight with the band Matao. They performed at Roskilde Festival
in 1979. His other group, "Atilla Engin Group", released five albums. While he was recording and touring with his band, he also taught at the Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory, for four years. Engin formed a band with 12 Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory students and they toured Turkey. This project ended with a joint concert with The Istanbul Radio Big Orchestra at The Ataturk Cultural Center
in Istanbul.
In 1985 Engin was awarded the title Composer of The Year in Denmark. In the same year, the Atilla Engin Group was appointed as Denmark's cultural ambassador to represent the country in conjunction with the European Music Year 1985.
Engin established the World to World Drums And Percussion Festival in Copenhagen.
Engin formed this festival in Copenhagen, with events taking place in Aarhus
and Malmö, Sweden. The festival included performances by Zakir Hussain
, Airto Moreira
, Nana Vasconcelos
, Peter Giger
, Danny Gottlieb
, and others. He participated in an international festival in India
, Tal Vadhya Utsav, in India
.
, and formed the New World Orchestra and a six-piece group, Turquoise. Engin left the US for Brazil
in 2005.
Turkish American
Turkish Americans are people who have Turkish ancestry and are citizens of the United States.-History:Early Turkish immigrants to the United States were predominantly from Turkey's rural community. They settled in large, industrial cities and found employment as unskilled laborers...
fusion jazz musician. From 1974 to 2001 he was active in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
as a musician and educator; he organized music festivals and represented Denmark as a musical ambassador. In 2001, he left Denmark for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he formed an orchestra.
Biography
Recording and teaching in Copenhagen
Engin first played and recorded in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, moving to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1974, and playing with several groups. He released his first album Turkish Delight with the band Matao. They performed at Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
in 1979. His other group, "Atilla Engin Group", released five albums. While he was recording and touring with his band, he also taught at the Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory, for four years. Engin formed a band with 12 Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory students and they toured Turkey. This project ended with a joint concert with The Istanbul Radio Big Orchestra at The Ataturk Cultural Center
Atatürk Cultural Center
Atatürk Cultural Center , called also simply as AKM, is a multi-purpose cultural center located in Taksim Square of Istanbul, Turkey...
in Istanbul.
In 1985 Engin was awarded the title Composer of The Year in Denmark. In the same year, the Atilla Engin Group was appointed as Denmark's cultural ambassador to represent the country in conjunction with the European Music Year 1985.
Engin established the World to World Drums And Percussion Festival in Copenhagen.
Engin formed this festival in Copenhagen, with events taking place in Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
and Malmö, Sweden. The festival included performances by Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain (musician)
Zakir Hussain , , is an Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer.-Early life:Hussain was born in Mumbai, India to the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha. He attended St...
, Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.-Biography:...
, Nana Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos is a Brazilian Latin jazz percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, most notable for his works with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Egberto Gismonti, and Gato Barbieri....
, Peter Giger
Peter Giger
Peter Giger is a Swiss percussionist and bandleader.-----His musical CV:1958 professional musician, tours in Europe with the Tremble Kids, Oskar Klein, Albert Nicholas, Bill Coleman, Joe Turner, Wild Bill Davison, Peanuts Holland1960 after short guest performance with Armand Gordons Ragtime Band,...
, Danny Gottlieb
Danny Gottlieb
Danny Gottlieb is a freelance drummer who has performed as part of the Pat Metheny Group and Mahavishnu Orchestra. He is also a member of the University of North Florida jazz faculty, where he teaches as a fulltime Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies.- Biography :Danny graduated from the...
, and others. He participated in an international festival in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Tal Vadhya Utsav, in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Tyrkis
He taught an evening class of 16 young musicians at the Rhythmic Evening School in Copenhagen in 1984, turning them into a band named Tyrkis which performed at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen. In 1987, Tyrkis won first prize at the Dortmunder Big Band Festival in Germany and released an album, My Little Chinese Love.Move to the United States
He left Denmark in 1989 for New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and formed the New World Orchestra and a six-piece group, Turquoise. Engin left the US for Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in 2005.
Copenhagen 1977-89
| MATAO 1977-81 |
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| Atilla Engin Group 1981-89 |
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Okay Temiz Okay Temiz is a leading Turkish fusion jazz percussionist and drummer.-Discography:* Maffy Falay & Sevda: ditto. * Maffy Falay & Sevda: Live at Jazzhus Montmartre.... , Percussion - Featured Arto Tunçboyaciyan Arto Tunçboyacıyan is an Armenian-Turkish musician. A famous avant-garde folk artist , he appeared on more than 200 records in Europe before arriving in the United States, where he went to work with numerous jazz legends including Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, and Joe Zawinul as well as a semi-regular... , Perc., voices - Featured Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Discography :* My Name Is Albert Ayler 1963 * Kirk in Copenhagen 1963 * Ben Webster in Denmark 1965-1971 Live at Danish Radio studios, Jazzhus Montmartre and Odd Fellow Palæet - Universal Music Denmark*One Flight Up 1964 *Sunday Walk 1969 - Discography :* My Name Is Albert Ayler 1963 (with... , Bass - Feat. Hugo Rasmussen Hugo Rasmussen is a Danish bassist. Rasmussen is best known for his 1978 album Sweets To The Sweet. Sweets To the Sweet was re-released in 2001 on Danish label Music Mecca.-Biography:... , Bass Jens Winther Jens Winther was a Danish jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger and bandleader. He composed for and played in a long line of European big bands and other orchestras. His work includes compositions for symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and choirs... Trumpet |
New York 1992-2002
| New World Orchestra 1992-95 |
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| Turquoise 1996-99 |
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| THE ISTANBUL ORCHESTRA 2000-01 |
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Frank Colón Frank Colón is an American musician and martial artist, of Puerto Rican descent.-Biography:Born in Washington, D.C., Colón moved from there to Puerto Rico at the age of five... - Percussion Michael Wolff Michael Blieden Wolff is an American jazz pianist, composer, producer, actor, and jazz educator. He was the bandleader and musical director of The Arsenio Hall Show... - Keyboards Eddie Henderson (musician) Eddie Henderson is an American jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player. Henderson's influences include Booker Little, Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw and Miles Davis.-Family influence and early music history:... - Trumpet |
Discography
- Felek Usta, 1971 Evren Records Turkey (Music, arrangement, vocals: Atilla Engin, Lyrics: Ömer Hayyam)
- Kumsalda, 1974 Yonca Records Turkey (Vocals: Özdemir Erdoğan (Lyrics, music, arrangement, drums, piano: Atilla Engin)
- Bütün İçkiler Benden Bu Gece, 1974 Yonca Records Vocals: Alpay (Lyrics, music, arrangement: Atilla Engin)
- Turkish Delight, Group Matao, 1979 RA Records Denmark
- Atatürk’s Children and Nasrettin Hoca, 1980 Fairytale Denmark
- Solens Børn, with Ariel(19), 1980 Pick Up Records
- Nazar, Atilla Engin Group, 1982 Danish Music Productions
- Memories, Atilla Engin Group (including Okay TemizOkay TemizOkay Temiz is a leading Turkish fusion jazz percussionist and drummer.-Discography:* Maffy Falay & Sevda: ditto. * Maffy Falay & Sevda: Live at Jazzhus Montmartre....
on percussion, Hugo RasmussenHugo RasmussenHugo Rasmussen is a Danish bassist. Rasmussen is best known for his 1978 album Sweets To The Sweet. Sweets To the Sweet was re-released in 2001 on Danish label Music Mecca.-Biography:...
on bass, Jens WintherJens WintherJens Winther was a Danish jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger and bandleader. He composed for and played in a long line of European big bands and other orchestras. His work includes compositions for symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and choirs...
on trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
) 1984 Danish Music Productions - Marmaris Love, Atilla Engin Group (with Okay Temiz), 1986 Danish Music Productions
- No Money No Honey, Atilla Engin Group (with Arto TunçboyacıyanArto TunçboyaciyanArto Tunçboyacıyan is an Armenian-Turkish musician. A famous avant-garde folk artist , he appeared on more than 200 records in Europe before arriving in the United States, where he went to work with numerous jazz legends including Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, and Joe Zawinul as well as a semi-regular...
), Danish Music Productions - My Little Chinese Love, Tyrkis Big Band conducted by Atilla Engin, Stunt Records Denmark
- Melo Perquana, Atilla Engin Group (with Niels-Henning Ørsted PedersenNiels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen- Discography :* My Name Is Albert Ayler 1963 * Kirk in Copenhagen 1963 * Ben Webster in Denmark 1965-1971 Live at Danish Radio studios, Jazzhus Montmartre and Odd Fellow Palæet - Universal Music Denmark*One Flight Up 1964 *Sunday Walk 1969 - Discography :* My Name Is Albert Ayler 1963 (with...
), 1988 Olufsen Records Denmark - Mosaic of Anatolia, Group Turquoise, 1999 Istanbul Records New York
- Moon Dog Girl by the Noodle Shop (John KruthJohn KruthJohn Kruth is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist best known for his highly energetic “Banshee Mandolin” style of playing. He is also proficient on guitar, banjo, harmonica and various flutes. Kruth is also a music journalist and author....
, Elliott SharpElliott SharpElliott Sharp is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer.A central figure in the avant-garde and experimental music scene in New York City since the late 1970s, Sharp has released over eighty-five recordings ranging from blues, jazz, and orchestral music to noise, no wave rock,...
, Atilla Engin and Jonathan SegelJonathan SegelJonathan Segel is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist. He has played with Camper Van Beethoven, Sparklehorse, Eugene Chadbourne, and Dieselhed.-Biography:...
) 1999 Sparkling Beatnik Records - Ocean of Emotion, The İstanbul Orchestra — Group Turquoise — Atilla Engin, 2009 Indie