Search - Talip Ozkan :: Dark Fire

Better things exist

me | here | 02/04/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a mixed bag. If you are new to Turkish music, it's not a bad place to start. It's hardcore intense and emotional, playing mostly in the Central Anatolian style, and I have to say that it was the first source I had to really get me into Turkish music. And I've met one Turkish saz player that really loves him. However, I think there are DOZENS of better players. He's not THE MASTER.... he's a decent player that's got his tunes down well. If you're hurtin' for decent playing, he's okay and better than some of the Americans playing Turkish tunes. I'd even say that one or two tracks are great. But if you really want to hear serious saz playing (and something you would want to listen to everyday) I'd suggest Arif Sag, Musa Eroglu, or the Alevi singer Sabahat Akkiraz (who always has great saz players with her). If you are into traditional players I'd also seriously recommend the Ali Ekber Cicek CD on Amazon, or the Alevi Djem recording. A bit more "contemporary" would be Omar Faruk Tekbilek's "WHIRLING". Cool, soulful , smooth production values. If you wanna add the funky beatz to the mix, try Mercan Dede's last few albums. Nar, Sufi Traveller, etc. He's a great musician, a Sufi, a seriously funky man, and a heck of a nice guy as well.

I'm not suggesting you don't buy this... it's a decent CD... but if you seriously want to understand saz, try the Arif Sag/ Musa Eroglu duet CD. It has a complexity and depth that is almost unmatched, by people that just about every Turkish saz player recognizes are absolute geniuses. It's hard to find the best players in the US, and Talip Ozkan has capitalized on that. He's fine... he's like the neighborhood guys you know that you invite over 'cause he's a good saz player... but I personally know 5 guys in North Carolina and Georgia (not exactly the hub of Baglama expertise) who can play the hell out of him. It's a good purchase, but he's "famous" because he got an Axiom distrobution deal in America, not because he is the best."

Awesome! One of the best albums you could ever own!

Il Duce | Maryland | 01/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Talip Ozkan is considered the foremost saz player in the world, but it's not simpley technique which makes him a great player, rather it's the shear emotional depth of his art, proving he is both an incredible performer and musician in general. The appropriately named "Dark Fire" album is such an outing that showcases the mans musicianship at a heightened sense. Indeed, each song broods in a dark quite manner before exploding into an intense firey performance, invoking feelings of love, mystique, passion and all things both dark and beautiful that are inately apart of the human experience. We are also treated to his rich baritone voice as he sings in Turkish, the traditional songs of his native land. I confess, I don't speak or understand Turkish, but the album does provide brief one line translated snippets of each song with vocals, which are undoubtebly some of the best lyrics ever concieved of in the known world (i.e. the song "Komur Gozlum" boasts "I fell into the fire of my beloved's charcoal-black eyes" and "Gah Cikarin Gokyuzune" has the line "Sometimes I go up in the sky and observe the world - sometimes I'm coming down and the world observes me"...deep). Finally, when compared to the "Mysteries of Turkey", "Dark Fire" is a definite improvement thanks to the addition of an accompanying saz player and better production, both helping the songs to sound thicker, fuller, and more robust. So definitely get a copy while you can, or else you'll miss a chance to experience some of the worlds greatest music ever performed."