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Ferit Odman

“I live with jazz. I love everything and anything about it.”

For some, the creative pursuit is but a facet of their everyday life. It’s an outlet for them, a place to let off steam or pour themselves into something other than the daily rat race of life. But for others, like self-described “jazz maniac” Ferit Odman, that journey is one that permeates every ounce of who they are, consuming their every moment with the search for the perfect riff, the tightest beat, and the smoothest flow.

Odman’s passion for jazz began in his homeland of Istanbul, where he was influenced heavily early on by the jazz scene there, finding inspiration in the work of artists like Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Philly “Joe” Jones. An energetic child who was always banging on pillows and anything else that could serve as a drum, the artist began his musical studies at the age of eleven and would later travel to Sweden as a foreign exchange student for further tutelage. A full scholarship to Istanbul Bilgi University would follow where he’d earn his Bachelor’s in Music. His training would also be enhanced through participation in the School for Improv workshops held in New York City where he would quickly be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship which he’d use to attend William Paterson University, earning his Master of Music in Jazz Performance. It was during the time of his extensive education that Odman began his professional career, playing and recording alongside artists such as Brian Lynch, Vincent Herring, and Peter Washington while in New York, performing at a host of clubs and festivals. And upon returning to Istanbul, the artist quickly inserted himself into the Turkish jazz scene, recording alongside Kerem Görsev and TRT Big Band while teaching drums at Bahçesehir University Jazz Studies. Odman’s talent on the drums has offered him the opportunity to play on more than twenty-five recordings.

In 2010, he released Nommo, featuring trumpeter Brian Lynch, saxophonist Vincent Herring and bassist Peter Washington while 2011’s Autumn in New York saw Downbeat magazine award the album 4 stars, with reviewer Ken Micallef writing, “Istanbul native Ferit Odman possess a pure, sparse, sweet drumming style that is subtle in intent and thoroughly musical.”

Now the artist is poised to lead his third release, Dameronia With Strings. Featuring music that is rooted in jazz tradition, swinging but touched with modern elements, the record presents a heartfelt melodic message from this jazz messenger whose fingerprints are all over it, from drums to production. It’s a life that Ferit Odman feels blessed to be living, and is something that this rising jazz star doesn’t take for granted.

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14
Album Review

Peter DiCarlo: The Other Side

Read "The Other Side" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Other Side is the second album by New York City-bred alto saxophonist Peter DiCarlo who now lives and works in Izmir, Turkey. Unlike the first, which was emphatically straight-ahead, this one blends elements of fusion and traces of a Turkish accent within DiCarlo's usual plain- spoken approach. Even so, the album's seven numbers--six written and all arranged by DiCarlo--would not be out of place in any anthology of contemporary straight-ahead jazz, as he seems unable to ...

5
Jazz Bastard

October 2017: Grover Washington Jr, Bud Powell and Ferit Odman

Read "October 2017: Grover Washington Jr, Bud Powell and Ferit Odman" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


Welcome to our monthly look at what's happening on the Jazz Bastard podcast! Since December 2012, Mike Caldwell and I have gotten together every fortnight to discuss jazz albums in an irreverent, irascible, and engaged manner. Some shows focus on a theme or an individual artist, while others just discuss what's been on the boys' playlists recently. We cover recordings from the whole history of the music as well as new releases. Instrumental, vocal, the occasional cross-over or fusion record--they're ...

14
Album Review

Ferit Odman: Dameronia With Strings

Read "Dameronia With Strings" reviewed by Jim Olin


In his latest album Dameronia With Strings, Ferit Odman pays tribute to the great Tadd Dameron. He treats listeners to a smorgasbord of Dameron jazz--a sparkling kind that soothes the soul but pumps the heart. Accompanied by an outstanding group of musicians, namely trumpeter Terell Stafford, composer and guitarist David O'Rourke, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Peter Washington, and a string sextet, the Turkish jazz drummer made Dameron relevant to young jazz artists today. In “Just Plain Talkin,'" Odman ...

6
Take Five With...

Take Five With Ferit Odman

Read "Take Five With Ferit Odman" reviewed by Ferit Odman


About Ferit Odman: Ferit Odman is an on demand and busy jazz drummer based in jny: 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 ...

103
Album Review

Ferit Odman: Autumn in New York

Read "Autumn in New York" reviewed by William Carey


Autumn in New York comes via Turkish drummer Ferit Odman--who leads this session featuring an all-American band playing straight-ahead tunes--but this is a far cry from a “drummer's date." Both members of the frontline--trumpeter Terell Stafford and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring--were referred to as “young lions" early in their careers, and sound very much at home throughout the set, their ensemble playing a testament that, by this point, they are clear mainstays of the scene. Stafford's tone is warm and ...

406
Take Five With...

Take Five With Ferit Odman

Read "Take Five With Ferit Odman" reviewed by 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 ...

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10

Recording

Ferit Odman: To Tadd Dameron With Love

Ferit Odman: To Tadd Dameron With Love

Source: Ferit Odman

Jazz drummer Ferit Odman’s third album Dameronia With Strings is released all analog [AAA] by Equinox Music & Entertainment on 180 Gram Limited Vinyl LP & CD. The remarkably sensitive played session by Ferit Odman, Terell Stafford, Peter Washington and Danny Grissett both as a band and ace soloists lets us dream up high above the sky together with a well-balanced, swinging string sextet and beautiful arrangements by David O'Rourke. This is a tribute to Tadd Dameron and gives us ...

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78

Recording

Ferit Odman - Autumn in New York (2011)

Ferit Odman - Autumn in New York (2011)

Source: Something Else!

There's something at once familiar, and entirely brand new, about Turkish drummer Ferit Odman's just-released Autumn In New York. Taking his cue from jazz drumming and bandleading legend Art Blakey, Odman investigates a series of tunes associated with the Blakey band, and even includes former members of the Jazz Messengers collective. Odman, however, performs with a carefully wrought sensitivity that the hard-hitting Blakey rarely allowed for himself. This gives Autumn In New York a touch of the edgy bop intensity ...

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Recording

"Autumn In New York" by Ferit Odman -- Available on CD & 180 Gram Vinyl

"Autumn In New York" by Ferit Odman -- Available on CD & 180 Gram Vinyl

Source: Ferit Odman

Turkish jazz drummer Ferit Odman has assembled a cast of dependable NYC veterans again for his second album. FERIT ODMAN Autumn In New York Trumpet: Terell Stafford Alto Sax: Vincent Herring Piano: Anthony Wonsey Bass: Peter Washington Drums: Ferit Odman Recorded and mixed by Michael Brorby at Acoustic Recording Brooklyn, New York. November 18-19, 2010 Mastered by Alan Silverman at Arf! Mastering New York, New York. ...

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Recording

Ferit Odman - Nommo (2010)

Ferit Odman - Nommo (2010)

Source: Something Else!

By Nick DeRiso Drummers, even the rare ones who find fame, are enablers. They spend the bulk of their time refocusing the spotlight on others. It's no different on Nommo, the sterling new quartet release by Turkish-born Ferit Odman. He assembled a thoughtful group of notables for sessions held in Brooklyn, N.Y., and then smartly allowed each of them to join the conversation. The result is a collaborative, almost communal, effort, as if Nommo was put together over a series ...

"Dameronia With Strings is a jazz masterwork that all the musicians involved in its making should be proud of; not only for their performances but for how wonderful a tribute it is to Tadd Dameron."

Heath Andrews - Rating 5: Stars (out of 5)

"Odman is a renowned jazz figure in his homeland of Turkey, and this spectacular, dazzling LP will only solidify his status as a stellar global talent."

Stacey Zering - Nodepression

"There’s an immeasurable gulf between the stage and the studio that many musicians simply can’t navigate. Turkish drummer Ferit Odman bridges that divide effortlessly on Nommo (Equinox 104-3; 48:55 * * * ½ ), a studio recording that channels enough live-band energy that the absence of post-solo applause comes almost as a shock..." —Shaun Brady, Downbeat Magazine (Nov-2011)

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Other Side

Shifting Paradigm Records
2024

buy

On Top Of The Roof

Ubuntu Music
2019

buy

Dameronia With Strings

Equinox Music & Entertainment
2015

buy

Autumn In New York

Equinox Music & Entertainment
2011

buy

Nommo

Equinox Music & Entertainment
2010

buy

Ever You Need Me

From: The Other Side
By Ferit Odman

The Other Side

From: The Other Side
By Ferit Odman

On A Misty Night

From: Dameronia With Strings
By Ferit Odman

Alter Ego

From: Autumn In New York
By Ferit Odman

An Oscar For Treadwell

From: Nommo
By Ferit Odman

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