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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.

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

“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

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

"Burak honors jazz music with his playing and composing. It was an inspiration for me to play his beautiful music ..." 
Peter Washington

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