Baha Yetkin

Turkish oud artist and composer Baha Yetkin grew up in Istanbul, the meeting point of two continents, and the prolific melting pot of European and Middle Eastern musical cultures. So, not very surprisingly, he was able to shape a very unique artistic style which embraced both Istanbul music and Middle Eastern music; which in return, paved the way for fruitful collaborations with Turkish and European masters of music like Mustafa Keser, İnci Çayırlı, Melihat Gülses, Petros Klampanis, Michalis Kouloumis and Çiğdem Aslan.

Yetkin also garnered attention as the first ever Turkish oud artist to be invited to play flamenco in Spain, and to give a solo recital at Royal Albert Hall. Furthermore, these milestone events were preceded and followed by performances at prominent concert venues in Turkey and Europe, such as Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Lütfi Kırdar Meeting and Performance Hall and Zorlu Performing Arts Center in Istanbul; Gongora Theatre in Cordoba; and Vortex Jazz Club and Green Note in London. He also performed in festivals like Alamar World Music Fest in Almeria, Yeldeğirmeni Spring Jazz Festival in Istanbul and Rebetiko Carnaval in London. He performed at Royal Shakespeare Company. He has also done some Oud and Makam Music workshops in Istanbul, London and Madrid.

Now based in London, Baha Yetkin builds up his performances with his meticulously written compositions which are an amalgamation of out-of-the-box improvisational thinking based on Istanbul music, complex rhythmic structures of Middle Eastern music, emotional dynamics, meditation, spirituality and wisdom.

His debut album The Pearl was released in March 2019, he released 3 singles - in 2019 Emprian, in 2020 Shine Again and Tears of The Pearl. His latest album “The Turkish Oud” was released in 2021. He continues performing in the UK, Europe and Turkey.