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Burak Bedikyan

pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader

About Me

BURAK BEDİKYAN BIO:

A native of Istanbul, Bedikyan became interested in Jazz during high school with the commitment and passion to pursue a career as a professional musician. Formal music education began in 1996 with distinguished Turkish pianist & composer Aydin Esen where studies included modern harmony and jazz improvisation. Bedikyan attended the “Marmara University Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences” in the same year. While studying improvisational music, Bedikyan began explanding his harmonic base playing pop and rock gigs accompanying some of the leading popular figures of Turkey. In 2002 Burak Bedikyan received a full merit-based scholarship of music performance from the “Istanbul Bilgi University Jazz Department” where he had the opportunity to study with esteemed musicians such as Donovan Mixon, Ricky Ford, Can Kozlu, Ali Perret, Tuna Otenel, and Imer Demirer. While actively performing with his professors, heads began turning in his direction from the Turkish jazz scene thanks to his musicality and stylistic versatility. Bedikyan recorded his debut album “Circle of Life” in 2012 in NY with internationally acclaimed artists; Chris Potter, Peter Washington and Bill Stewart. Published worldwide in 2013 by the prestigious record label SteepleChase, “Circle of Life” received positive feedback on the international arena from critics, journalists, as well as fans. January 2015 gave birth to the pianist’s second album as a leader. “Leap of Faith” featuring another all American line up including jazz greats Chris Cheek, Ron McClure and Billy Drummond. As in his first album, Bedikyan presents a set of original compositions rooted with the American jazz tradition but embracing his European influences as well as his Turkish/Armenian heritage.

Bedikyan became one of the foremost piano players of his native country as a leader and a highly sought after sideman for a variety of American and European Jazz artists. A true improvisational triple threat finds Bedikyan performing, recording and teaching across the globe. The musical resume of contemporaries that Bedikyan has shared a stage with over the last fifteen years includes:

Benny Golson, Chris Potter, Chris Cheek, Vincent Herring, Stefano DiBattista, Wynton Marsalis (houseband at the 14th Istanbul International Jazz Festival 2007/Nardis Jazz Club), Jim Rotondi, Sean Jones, Dusko Goykovich, Brian Lynch, Kevin Mahogany, Jenny Evans, Ricky Ford, Andy Middleton, Harvie S, Aydin Esen, Maffy Falay, Kestutis Vaiginis, Donovan Mixon, Ron McClure, Peter Washington, Eric Revis, Johannes Strasser, Bill Stewart, Billy Drummond, Ted Poor, Joris Dudli, Jean-Loup Lognon, Alexandre Tassel, Melba Joyce, Deborah Davis, Brigitte Beraha, Dennis Jeter, Larry Price, Leah Kline, and Mark Alban Lotz.

Critical acclaim includes:

“The Turkish pianist's impressive debut album is steeped in modernist references. ... the trio tracks flow with contemporary lyricism.” Financial Times - Mike Hobart (**** Financial Times August 9, 2013)



“...The pianist's prismatic chords, brooding tone, swift tempo-shifts and sharp dynamic range provide a rich foundation for Chris Potter's improvisation on tenor, with Stewart providing apt, skittery support ... Whether Bedikyan manages to break out with a fully distinctive sound in the future is open to debate, but this effort leaves no doubt that he's got the chops, taste and range to do so-here's hoping he lets more of his imagination run wild.” DOWNBEAT - Peter Margasak (***Downbeat February 2014)

“This is an interesting overture for the Turkish newcomer, but it sounds like there's much more in reserve.” The Guardian - John Fordham / August 15, 2013

”Burak Bedikyan is an artistically gifted and as technically proficient as any pianist on the planet. ...The deft touch and dazzling technique of Bedikyan establishs a truly unique harmonic voice for piano in an other wise mundane if not tightly clustered pack of sometimes soulless virtuoso talent that has forgotten what pushing the creative envelope is all about... Burak Bedikyan is a name to remember and an artist whose musical stock is an arrow pointing straight up !” Brent Black - criticaljazz.com, bop-N-jazz.com

”...The Turkish pianist is set to make his mark on jazz piano playing. BB's tribute to late Tommy Flanagan raises Bedikyan himself into the great man's inner circle. Perhaps even his spiritual heir ... There have been so many good discs released this year that to select one is nigh impossible. Tell you what though - I don't know how long my short-list will be but I guarantee “Circle of Life” will be high up on it !” Bebop spoken here - Lance Liddle / November 20, 2013

“Circle of Life incorporates many facets of jazz with a twist. Listening to this CD will demand happiness with its energy, arrangements and compositions. This was a luminous departure for Burak and there is so much more to come.” The Jazz in M.E.E. Magazine / April 6, 2014

”Bedikyan is a brilliant pianist who has assimilated the jazz language with an apparent ease which is very well accompanied here by a powerful and creative rhythm section and the brash and chameleon saxophonist Potter regarded as the “Michael Brecker” of the 21st century...” Cuadernos de Jazz - Vicente Ménsua / October, 2013

”His first album stands before us with its beautiful and intact harmony . Hesitations, wisely-taken decisions, skills and ideas to be conceived better in the future are all fascinating.We are sure about that Turkish pianist will achieve a phenomenal success in the future.” Distritojazz.com - I.Ortega / 11.09.2013

“Burak Bedikyan is regarded as one of the best equiped pianists of his generation by many contemporary Turkish jazz masters such as Aydin Esen, Tuna Ötenel, Emin Findikoglu and Önder Focan. Bedikyan who has been part of the Nardis Jazz Club's stage at countless prestigious concerts since the club’s inception has also been performing at various local and overseas clubs and festivals for the past 10 years. He is keenly sought as a “sideman” by many European and American musicians’ for their club performances in Istanbul. Bedikyan who has a considerable command of a whole array of styles is also admired for his melodiousness and very personal aesthetic performances.” Jazz Magazine (Turkey)

”I enjoyed the session with Burak a lot, he came in with some really nice tunes that were fun to play, he played great and everything went down very smoothly with a good, positive vibe. Thanks Burak !” Chris Potter

”Burak honors jazz music with his playing and composing. It was an inspiration for me to play his beautiful music and to support his solos. And his choice of sideman could have been my choice- in his mind, Burak was hearing a very sympathetic group. I look forward to the next one !” Peter Washington

”Burak is a fine musical artist who is worthy of greater recognition.” Bill Stewart

”A thoughtfully constructed and beautifully performed recording. Lovely arrangements and compositions. Burak plays with intelligence and great sensitivity.” Kevin Hays

”Burak is a fantastic pianist !” Harvie S