Muammer Ketencoglu & His Zeybek Ensemble
Line up
- Cengiz Onural (Guitar)
- Deniz Ketencoglu (Vocals)
- Erdem Senturk (Oud)
- Muammer Ketencoglu (Musical director, accordion, vocals)
- Ozgur Koban (Violin)
- Rahmi Gocmen (Percussion)
- Stelyo Berber (Vocals)
- country:Turkey
- region:Orient
- style(s):Balkan Folk
- label:Kalan Music
- type:Band
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist submitted by:
Founded in 1996 in Istanbul, the ensemble at the beginning performed Greek rebetika songs. From 2002 on it has been performing Greek and Turkish zeybek and folk songs and dance tunes as well as Izmir style rebetikos (smirneikos). Zeybeks were bands of armed irregular troops formed to struggle against social inequalities after the 17th century. They developed a special culture which contained zeybek songs and dances shared by Turks and Greeks who lived in the region for hundreds of years.
With its quite special repertoire, Muammer Ketencoglu and His Zeybek Ensemble present a rich and delightful music tradition while at the same time show the natural connection and interaction between Turks and Greeks of Western Turkey.
Besides their concerts in Turkey, the ensemble has participated in various activities and festivals in Greece, Belgium, Cyprus, France and Germany.

