Önder Focan

Önder Focan

Born in 1955. Started music in 1970, started to get interested in jazz music in 1975. Starting from the year 1985 performed in various local and international venues. On December 1994 released his first album JAZZ GUITAR in MD format. On December 1994, recorded his first CD entitled “Onder Focan Group – ERKEN”

In 1997 performed in the Guitar Night which was organised by MIDEM with 11 international guitarists (i.e. Jan Ackermann, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Terje Rypdal, Ximo Teber, Noel Akchiote, Eric St.Laurent, Seppo Tyni, Sandro Gibellini, Nigel Clarke, Herald Haerter, representing Istanbul Culture and Arts Fund (IKSV).

The Artist’s 1998 CD BENEATH THE STARS honoured him as the one and only Turhish jazz artist who has released an album on Blue Note label. This album featured the great drummer Bill Stewart and Hammond B3 player Sam Yahel.

Önder Focan attended IAJE seminars in 1999 and 2000.

Performed at the 80. anniversary concert of Thomastik Infeld Strings on November 1999 in Vienna. Önder Focan performed for Thomastik Infeld Strings in 2001 and Höfner Guitars in 2002 at the winter NAMM shows in L.A. On November 2001 recorded in Helsinki, Finland which features the jazz versions of Turkish popular tunes.

In 2002 Onder Focan was involved in SIJF (Spontaneous International Jazz Friends) project which was lead by the excellent German bass player Stefan Weeke and recorded a CD entitled No.One with great drummer Ernst Bier which has released in Germany the same year.