Primary Instrument: Drums
Robert Mehmet Sinan Ikiz was born in 1979 in Istanbul, Turkey. Ikiz's interest in music and drums started at the age of 2, accompanying Tchaikovsky symphonies on pots and pans in his grandmother's apartment in Istanbul. Ikiz moved to Stockholm, Sweden in 1982 as a 3 year-old. In elementary school he played with Straight Ahead, a band formed by the eminent guitarist Lars Dohlon. During 1991-1996 the band toured and played concerts and festivals in Sweden. Straight Ahead played mostly the music of Jimi Hendrix so it is no coincidence that Mitch Mitchell is one of Ikiz's heroes on the drums.
Ikiz studied at the Stockholm Music Conservatory between 1995-1998 in the Afro-American music program. In 1998 he won the annual competition there and received a scholarship to study at the Los Angeles Music Academy.
Tony Inzalaco, Sherman Ferguson and Joe Porcaro were some of the teachers Ikiz studied with in Los Angeles. During this period in Southern California he gained valuable experience in the American jazz scene playing in David Ornette Cherry�'s Impressions Of Energy which included musicians like Justo Almario and Ralph “Buzzy” Jones among others.
While back in Europe with Stockholm as a base, Ikiz started to tour with different groups and projects all over the world as well doing recording sessions on a regular basis. Ikiz has performed, held workshops or made studio sessions in over 40 countries such as Australia, China, France, Mexico, USA, South Africa, Russia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Norway, Finland, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Serbia/Montenegro and many more...
Ikiz's talents have been recognized by the Swedish Royal Music Academy as he received awards in percussion in 1999 & 2003 and in Jazz in 2004.
Due to Ikiz's ever increasing interest in jazz, he started a record company called Stockholm Jazz Records in 2002 which he continues to run today with his partner Daniel Tilling.
“Checking In” is the title of Ikiz debut album as a solo artist. China Moses, Shai Maestro, Nils Landgren, Magnus Lindgren and Karl Olandersson are some of the musicians that appear on the album.
Ikiz is known for being an extremely versatile drummer/percussionist having played and recorded all sorts of music from straight-ahead jazz to funk and pop.
Ikiz is presently a steady member of the following bands:
Nils Landgren Funk Unit Andreas �-berg Quartet Tilling-Ikiz-Kling Erik Lindeborg Trio Magnus Lindgren Batucada Jazz Another Angle (led by Tommy Berndtsson & Sharon Dyall) Magnum Coltrane Price Tracksuit Gangster
Ikiz is also member of two exiting duos, one with the oud virtuoso Mousa Elias and one with the phenomenal multi-instrumentalist Magnus Lindgren.
Magnus Lindgren Batucada Jazz, Live at New Morning, Paris (Gazell Records, 2012)
Magnum Coltrane Price, The Getaway (CareMusic, 2010)
Nils Landgren Funk Unit, Funk For Life (ACT, 2010)
Dan Reed Band, Live at Union Chapel (DVD) (Zero one Music, 2010)
Erik Lindeborg Trio, Time (Stockholm Jazz Records, 2010)
Tilling-Ikiz-Kling, Solitary Interests (Stockholm Jazz Records, 2009)
Andreas Öberg with Marian Petrescu, Live In Concert (Hot Club Records, 2006)
Andreas Öberg, Young Jazz Guitarist (Hot Club Records, 2005)
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