Take Five With Ferit Odman

Meet Ferit Odman:

Ferit Odman is an in-demand and busy jazz drummer based in Istanbul. 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 has been granted a Fulbright Scholarship to further build on his studies at William Paterson University (2006). He spent/played two years in New York City, 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 and tours with Turkish pianist Kerem Garsev, while leading his own quintet and promoting his debut CD release Nommo, that he recorded in New York City with Brian Lynch, Vincent Herring, Peter Washington and Burak Bedikyan.

Ferit Odman is an Istanbul Agop Cymbals endorser.

Instrument(s):

Drums.

Teachers and/or influences?

Teachers: Bill Goodwin, Can Kozlu, Mulgrew Miller
Influences: Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones.

Your dream band:

Just recorded my second album with my dream band! So thankful!

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Nommo! My first baby.

The first Jazz album I bought was: Wynton Marsalis, Levee Low Moan.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? Keeping the tradition alive.

CDs you are listening to now: McCoy Tyner Trio with Symphony, What The World Needs Now (Impulse!);

Jeremy Pelt, Close To My Heart (MaxJazz));

Joe Lovano Us Five, Bird Songs (Blue Note ).

Desert Island picks: Roy Haynes, Out Of The Afternoon (Impulse!);

Wynton Kelly, Kelly At Midnite (Vee Jay Recordings);

Hank Mobley. Roll Call (Blue Note);

Clifford Brown and Max Roach, Study In Brown (Polygram);

The Engine Room, A History Of Jazz Drumming From Storyville to 52nd Street (Proper Records).

What is in the near future? I'll be releasing my second album, Autumn In New York, around December, 2011. We had a great recording date with trumpeter Terell Stafford, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, pianist Anthony Wonsey and bassist Peter Washington. I'm really looking forward to that.


Photo Credit
Courtesy of Ferit Odman

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