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Burhan Öçal
Musician
Burhan Öçal is a world-renowned Turkish percussionist and rhythm virtuoso who bridges traditional Turkish music with Western music, particularly jazz. Born in Kırklareli in 1959, he learned classical Turkish music from his mother and jazz from his father, studied at the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory, and later lived in Zurich, Switzerland from age 18 to 24, carrying his career into Europe. Alongside percussion instruments like the darbuka, kös and bendir, he is also a master of stringed instruments such as the oud. He caught the Western world's attention at the 1979 Zurich Poetry Festival and went on to run long-running collaborative projects with jazz legends including Joe Zawinul.
Upcoming events (1)
Frequently asked questions
Who is Burhan Öçal? ▾
Burhan Öçal is a world-renowned Turkish percussionist and rhythm virtuoso who bridges traditional Turkish music with Western music, particularly jazz. Born in Kırklareli in 1959, he learned classical Turkish music from his mother and jazz from his father, studied at the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory, and later lived in Zurich, Switzerland from age 18 to 24, carrying his career into Europe. Alongside percussion instruments like the darbuka, kös and bendir, he is also a master of stringed instruments such as the oud. He caught the Western world's attention at the 1979 Zurich Poetry Festival and went on to run long-running collaborative projects with jazz legends including Joe Zawinul.
Where does Burhan Öçal perform / which events are they playing? ▾
Burhan Öçal will perform at the following upcoming events: Babylon (Istanbul), Burhan Öçal & The Trakya All Stars — 27 Nov 2026