He is definitely on his way to becoming a creative voice in the world of jazz guitar.
John Vincent Barron - Jazz Review.com
Jazz has a new vehicle with Sinan Bakir at the helm and this generation can claim him as one of their own.
Lucia Sanchez - Examiner
"On My Way" is a solid debut. It's easy to put this music on and just let it play. The voice of the guitar one hears on the opening cut never wavers or falters throughout."
Richard Kamins - Hartford Courant
Sinan Bakir - guitar
Thomson Kneeland - bass
Mark Ferber - drums
All music composed by Sinan Bakir
Recorded at Rotary Records, Springfield MA
November 28, 2008
Recording Engineer: Warren Amerman
Produced by Sinan Bakir
Photography and Artwork by Sevim Yolacti
Sinan Bakir Bio/Press:
The sound that Sinan is striving for described often as fresh, clean and lively yet intense and full with emotion. Sinan Bakir is hailed not only as a virtuoso player, but also a masterful composer. His album "On My Way" with Thomson Kneeland and Mark Ferber is described by Richard Kamins of Hartford Courant as a solid debut." It's easy to put this music on and just let it play. One can hear the influences of Holdsworth, John Scofield and Bill Frisell but Bakir is no imitator. The voice of the guitar one hears on the opening cut never wavers or falters throughout." Dan Barry of Hartford Advocate describes Sinan's playin' as quietly elaborate, informed by a good sense of when to crescendo and when to lean back and let it rip. Dither Schmidth of Radio Resita tells that the album transforms a common day into a perfect day and calls it magical.
Sinan, originally from Turkey, came to the United States to study jazz as a scholarship student. His studies brought him to Hartford, where he has begun to make a name on the music scene. He had the privilege to play with many of areas great musicians such as Warren Byrd, Mike Asetta, Craig Hartley, Alex Nakhimovsky, Steve Clarke, Curtis Torian and Pat Marafiote. Playing credits include Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Aydin Esen and Jaimoe. Sinan had many TV & Radio appearences such as Comcast's TV series “Up and Coming”, “Accent on Jazz” at WWUH, Fox News and had international airplay from Canada through Europe. Notable festival appearances include Hartford International Jazz Festival(2005) and New Haven International Arts & Ideas Festival(2008).
"On My Way" Album Reviews:
These pieces are not just vamps waiting for long solos; instead, many of the songs have strong melodic lines that open up logically for the various solos. "Oddity" displays a Middle-Eastern feel in the rhythms and ringing guitar chords; Bakir's stinging phrases gallop atop Ferber's exciting drum work and Kneeland's rich bass tones. "Stop & Go" has a "rockish" feel, thanks to the pounding drums and thumping bass lines. Bakir digs in on this track and one can hear the influence of Allan Holdsworth, not so much for blazing fast riffs but in the textures of the guitar sound. Without a second lead instrument, Bakir alternates between single-note lines and chordal strumming. "Steps" is a good example of how he allows the melody to dictate the pace, giving room to Kneeland for a short, melodic, solo before digging in to a thoughtful guitar spot. Other highlights include the title track that opens the program. The guitarist's sound is quite clear allowing the trills and little circular riffs to stand out on a piece that is somewhat introspective. "Play!" is another "hot" track, with a rhythm line that, at times, sounds like Juan Tizol's "Caravan." Kneeland's bouncing bass phrases atop Ferber's strutting drums gives the guitarist the impetus to "let rip."
"On My Way" is a solid debut. It's easy to put this music on and just let it play. One can hear the influences of Holdsworth, John Scofield and Bill Frisell but Bakir is no imitator. The voice of the guitar one hears on the opening cut never wavers or falters throughout. The rhythm section is impressive in their support and creativity. Sinan Bakir is a good young composer and player worth your attention.
Richard Kamins - Hartford Courant
Music has a formula: Understanding theory, originality, natural talent, the right chemistry, discipline and focus, incorporate your own influences, understand the business side, and most importantly, music continues to grow inside you for the rest of your life. Sinan Bakir has accomplished and understands all of the above with his (self released) debut LP "On My Way" His well matched trio including the extremely talented Thomas Kneeland on acoustic bass and the magnificent drummer Mark Ferber, have presented us with something new, different and fresh. Jazz has evolved yet again with this new alternative. Lend an ear, it's not your parents/grandparents music anymore. If you haven't discovered Jazz yet, now is the opportune time to do so. Jazz has a new vehicle with Sinan Bakir at the helm and this generation can claim him as one of their own. Debut LP "On My Way" . "Stop and Go" has a delicious vibe with an example of what a perfect trio should sound like. Listen for the drum solo. "Ice Orbits"www.myspace.com/sinanbakir has a sweet lazy day feel with layers of emotional complexities yawning and spreading it's wings. "Evergreen" Is truly a lovely piece from start to finish with an epic bass solo.
Lucia Sanchez - Examiner
Turkish-born guitarist/composer Sinan Bakir makes a strong debut as a leader with the self-released On My Way, an inventive guitar-trio outing with bassist Thomson Kneeland and drummer Mark Ferber. As the title suggests, the Hartford, Connecticut-based musician shows he is definitely on his way to becoming a creative voice in the world of jazz guitar. Bakir moves easily from a classic Kenny Burrell-style, especially on chord melody passages (title track and "Steps"), to a more modern, linear approach in the mold of John Scofield ("Stop n' Go," "Karma"). The guitarist effectively mixes bebop lines with chromatic trills, relying heavily on guitaristic hammer-ons and pull-offs, to create a unique voice void of direct imitation. The full effect of Bakir's approach can be felt on the dirge-like ballad "Evergreen." Kneeland, with his deep-in-the-wood tone, cuts through the harmonically-rich ballad "Ice Orbits" with an inventive solo turn. The bassist then displays even more technical brilliance on the Latin-tinged "Steps," paving the way for one of Bakir's more inspired improvised journeys from the session the up-tempo "Play." The disc as a whole benefits from Kneeland being featured prominently. Ferber's sensitive drumming provides the right amount of dynamic push the proceedings, elevating piece to a high level of musicality.
John Vincent Barron - Jazz Review.com
Any jazz afficianado will love this hot debut from guitarist Sinan Bakir, who has been making a name for himself, playing around the tri-state area these past couple of years. This is an album you can really sink your teeth into, delving into the many delights of Bakir's pure guitar sounds, (no pedals please), his passages are well thought out and devoid of any guitar shredding so endemic in todays music be it jazz or rock. Bakir wears his influences proudly and I hear the echo's of the greats like Wes Montgomery, Les Paul, Pat Metheny, John Scofield et al. Recorded in a one day session, in a re- furbished studio that was once an old church, Bakir and his two seasoned New York studio veterans on acoustic bass and drums have made an album that could have been recorded 50 years ago but could also have been made today and will still sound great 30 years from now..You couldn't get a higher compliment.
Joseph J. Sciortino - Amazon reviewer
Sinan has introduced himself as a talented author, and his performing views accepts a modern tendencies. His themes were done in one interesting performing mood, where influences comes out from the 50's, and reachs actuelle period. His guitar technique is in many aspects unique, but offering arrangments has something "taken" from Metheny/Scofield approaches. His performing energy is also specific, and in interesting way he treats often rhythm changes in present album themes. "On My Way" is highly recomandable product, and realistically announce Sinan' s arrival on modern jazz scene.
Branimir Lokner - Music Editor and Reviewer
Read more...