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Founded in Istanbul in 1996, Baba Zula feautures founding members Levent Akman (percussion, rhythm machines,toys), Murat Ertel (saz and other strings,vocal), as well as darbuka player Coşar Kamçı who replaced original member Emre Onel in 2005. BaBa Zula added live drawing artist Ceren Oykut into the mix in 2004. Her presence onstage has added an important visual aspect to BaBa Zula's live performances.
Baba Zula go to great lengths to provide their fans with a unique live
show experience. Their ritual like performances are a mixture of
disciplines of art, often featuring belly dancers, elaborate costumes,
poetry, theatre and live animation, delivering viewers a tantalizing
audio-visual feast.
By mixing oriental instruments such as the darbuka, electric saz, and
spoons with electronics and modern sounds, BaBa Zula creates a sound
all their own called "Oriental Dub". While a ney can represent the past
Sufi-Islamic tradition, and a clarinet is the symbol of the music of
the Turkish gypsies-an electric saz together with a wooden spoon can
serve as musical compass to Turkish musical roots going as far back as
pre-Islamic, shamanic times, through Anatolia reaches all the way up to
present-day Istanbul.Despite sounds that might initially come to mind
when one hears the phrase "Oriental Dub", Baba Zula's music is in fact
rock'n roll that rolls in a way that westerners haven't heard since the
late '60s rock epoch. Baba Zula share their legacy with us through
their music, a music born out of Istanbul and influenced by the
memories of Istanbul passed on to them from generations past.
The group, which from the very beginning has shown great interest in
featuring guest musicians and players in concerts and albums, has been
accompanied by stars such as the Thracian Selim Sesler (clarinet
master), the Canadian singer Brenna MacCrimmon (specialized in Balkan
folk music), Alexander Hacke (E.N.), Fred Frith (from Henry Cow, John
Zorn, etc), Jaki Liebezeit (Can), Hüsnü Şenlendirici (Clarinet master
from "Laço Tayfa"), Ralph Carney from San Fransisco (saxophonist who
worked with Tom Waits and B52's) and the diva Semiha Berksoy (first
Turkish opera singer and painter).
Baba Zula's debut album, "Tabutta Rovasata = Sommersault in the Coffin"
(re-released by Kadraj in 2006) includes the original music score for
Dervis Zaim's first movie of the same name released in 1996 about a car
thief who returns the cars he has stolen to their original owners and
falls in love with a peacock. The album also includes four songs on
which the movie's stars Ahmet Ugurlu, Tuncel Kurtiz and Aysel Aydemir
contribute vocals.
Their album, "Three Plays from Seventeen pieces" (Doublemoon Records )
comprising music created for the plays "The Little Prince" by Antoine
de Saint Exupery, "Frog Tales" by Arnold Lobel and "Kitchen Accidents"
by Perihan Mağden, was released in 1999. Apart from a number of other
artists,Ralph Carney, Brenna McCrimmon and Selim Sesler have also taken
part in this album as guest stars. Baba Zula has also made the music
for the film "Renkli Türkçe = Colored and in Turkish", directed by
Ahmet Cadırcı.
Their third album "Psychebelly Dance Music released in May 2003 was
mixed and mastered by the British musician and producer Mad Professor
who previously worked with Massive Attack , The Orb, Lee Perry and the
like. Their fourth album "Duble Oryantal" which was released on
Doublemoon Records in May of 2005, reunited them with mix-master Mad
Professor, Sly & Robbie and Alexander Hacke and reflects the
culmination of years of fearless musical adventuring, and as usual
there's a talented and eclectic supporting cast on board for a share of
the bounty.
On 2007 release, "Roots", Baba Zula return to their original format as
a trio and only the core members of the BaBa Zula family, such as
vocalist Brenna MacCrimmon, can be heard on only one song. The group
also show off a new perspective on their trademark sound "oriental dub"
courtesy of the group's first trip to Japan in the Spring of 2007,
where they befriended a Japanese sound engineer. Traditional Turkish
influences on the album include works by important composers and
lyricists in the history of Turkish Music, such as Neset Ertas and Pir
Sultan Abdal as well as analog recording techniques courtesy of Turkish
producer Mehmet Ates.
Baba Zula have composed several mood-setting pieces for the silver
screen over the years, their most recent release is an original score
for the film "Dondurmam Gaymak". The band also appeared in the Golden
Bear award winning director Fatih Akın’s film "Crossing the Bridge"
that explores the sounds of Istanbul. The group also provided music for
the film by recording with Einstuerzende Neubauten's Alexander Hacke.
Baba Zula have turned up the volume and energy levels at festivals such
as the Roskilde Festival (Denmark), Sofia Film Festival (Bulgaria),
Klinkende Munt Festival (Belgium), Arezzo Wave Festival (Italy), Images
of Middle East (multi-city Denmark tour), Cologne Triennale (Germany),
Printemps de Bourges (France), Şimdi/Now Festival (Germany), the Boost
Festival ( Netherlands) and the Venice Biennial.
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