VAN MERWIJKS MUSIC MACHINE with Hasan Özgök

line up

• Hasan Özgök (Guitar, ud vocals)
• Horn Section (Horn Section)
• Lucas van Merwijk (Drums, percussion)
• Marc Bischoff (Piano)
• Nils Fischer (Percussion)
• Reno Steba (Bass)

• country:
  Turkey
• region:
  Central Europe
• style(s):
  Mambo Roma
• label:
  Tam Tam Productions
• type:
  Band, Solist, Composer/Songwriter
• gender:
  male
• instrumentation:
  instrumental, vocal
• artist submitted by:
  Tam Tam Productions

Hasan Ozgok and
Lucas van Merwijk
are two top musicians, in
the fields of world music and
jazz respectively; the former
is a native of Istanbul, Turkey,
and the latter of Baarn
in The Netherlands.
World music pioneer Hasan
Hasan Ozgok , who earned his
reputation with the legendary
Hasan Band, is initiator of
Dutch-Turkish pop music,
which skyrocketed to popularity
in the mid - eighties.
Hasan Ozgok 's roots lie in one
of the liveliest quarters of
Istanbul, Kasimpasja. He allowed
himself to be inspired
by the gypsy music, "Roma",
that was played all over his
neighbourhood.
Hasan's latest innovative
project is integrating Afro-
Cuban rhythms into this
beloved Roma music.
By adding this Latin touch
he has managed to create
a unique cross-over, "Roma-
Latin". It felt only natural
for him to invite Lucas van
Merwijk to combine artistic
forces for this remarkable
album, Mamborama.
Lucas is renowned for his
scintillating Cubop City
Big Band and is commonly
recognized as the latin-,
fusion- and jazzdrummer
in The Netherlands and
Belgium alike. Throughout
the years Hasan's admiration
of Van Merwijk's performances
has been huge, realizing
that without Lucas there
would not be Latin, in the
same way as there would not
be Roma without Hasan.
As he puts it: "Hasan is
Roma, Lucas is Latin".
The sizzling combination of
Hasan's gypsy music-based
compositions and Lucas'
driving Afro-Cuban grooves
has created an astonishing
musical crossover. This
completely new bridge
between two seemingly
incompatible music genres
makes for a unprecedented
world class music format.
In Hasan's vocals and guitar
play one easily recognizes
the heartfelt Roma-elements
"weltschmerz and passionate
love"; virtuoso drummer
Lucas's unmistaken Latin feel
adds a uniquely organic twist
to the whole, resulting in a
sensational, swinging sound.
This scintillating musical
interplay between Istanbul
and Havanna, performed by
a ten-man line-up, including
an awesome horn section,
brings you top class listening
as well as superb dancing
pleasure.



Hasan Ozgok Vocals, guitar, ud
Lucas van Merwijk Drums, timbales
Nils Fischer Congas, percussion
Marc Bischoff Piano, keyboards
Reno Steba Bass
Rik Mol Trumpet
Martijn de Laat Trumpet
Louk Boudesteijn Trombone
Dimitar (Mitko) Liolev Alt sax
Alex Simu Tenor sax, clarinet
Recorded at Tam Tam studio, Baarn/Nederland
Recording Engineer: Juan (Bulu) Viloria
Production : Hasan Oezgoek, Niels Lingbeek
Mastering : Mastersound studio
Eelde / Groningen/ Nederland
Photography: Mijke Bos
Design: Fonts + Files, Haarlem
The Roma-Latin project received financial
support from Het Nederlandse Fonds voor
Podiumkunsten, VSB Fonds, Prins Bernhard
Fonds and the Kunstraad Groningen.
Thanx to the board members of the
Farfarra Foundation: Jeanet Hoiting,
Joke Fleer and Renze de Vries. Another
warm thank you to Roos den Hertog
of Tam Tam office for additional
feedback and support.
Hasan Ozgok &
The Roma-Latin Project
MAMBOROMA
featuring Lucas van Merwijk

Links

• Tam Tam Productions