Concert Elif Canfezâ Gündüz Quartet

Elif Canfezâ Gündüz   kemençe

Kaan Bıyıkoğlu            p

Ozan Musluoğlu         db

Serkan Alagök            d

The quartet presents Elif Canfezâ Gündüz’s compositions with new jazz arrangements by pianist Kaan Bıyıkoğlu. Their music blends the traditional melodies of Anatolia with the dynamics of modern jazz. The lyrical sound of the kemençe, the strong base of the double bass, the rich harmonies of the piano, and the energetic colors of the drums come together to create an unforgettable musical journey. We would like to thank Samm's Bistro for their concert and venue support.

Born in Istanbul in 1994, Elif Canfezâ Gündüz is known for her original approach of combining the kemençe with jazz. A graduate of Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory, she received awards at a young age, performed on different continents, and shared the stage with international masters. She is the founder of ensembles such as Arfana and Savt. In 2025, she released her own jazz album series based on her compositions. She is currently a member of the Istanbul State Turkish Music Research and Performance Ensemble.

Kaan Bıyıkoğlu started his musical journey at Middle East Technical University and continued his jazz studies at Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam. He performed in many European festivals and projects. After returning to Türkiye, he worked as both a teacher and a performer with many leading names in jazz. In 2023, he completed his PhD at ITU MIAM. He combines his knowledge of classical and jazz music in his unique arrangements.

Ozan Musluoğlu studied double bass at Bilgi University and is one of Türkiye’s leading jazz bassists. He recorded with musicians such as Jeremy Pelt, JD Allen, and Darrell Green. His album My Best Friends Are Vocalists, released by Sony Music, was chosen as “Best Jazz Album of the Year” by iTunes. He continues his career as the double bassist of the TRT Big Band.

Serkan Alagök studied both bassoon and drums, creating his own style by combining classical and jazz traditions. He performed with national orchestras as well as in jazz festivals, giving concerts from Canada to South Korea. Today, he works as a lecturer and head of the Jazz Department at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory.

Musician profiles are also available on the Bizim Caz website: https://bizimcaz.com/musician/KaanBiyikoglu

https://bizimcaz.com/musician/OzanMusluoglu

https://bizimcaz.com/musician/SerkanAlagok

This project has been prepared with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism