Alper Yilmaz (electric bass, vocals)

Bassist, composer, and arranger Alper Yilmaz began playing the guitar at the age of ten, and took electric bass as his main instrument in 1993. He performed regularly with prominent jazz musicians Tuna Ötenel and Janusz Szprot Orchestras in Turkey from 1993-1995, and later recorded with Ötenel on his 1995 record Sometimes.

Yilmaz received his Ph.D. in economics from University of California in Davis where he played in the school’s jazz band. In California, he also performed with internationally renowned saxophonists Mike McMullen (known for his work with Dave Liebman, Ray Charles, Randy Brecker, Sonny Fortune, Manhattan Transfer, Diane Schuur, Natalie Cole, and Kenny Wheeler), and John Tchicai (known for his work with John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and John Lennon), as well as guitarists Dave Lynch and Steve Homan, and many others. Yilmaz arrived in New York in 2000, and quickly established himself as a prominent musician on the local scene. He studied jazz music theory with Matthew Garrison and Adam Rogers; improvisation and arrangement with Antonio Hart; composition with Michael Mossman, and attended workshops with John Patitucci. Yilmaz performs regularly in New York City, as well as at international festivals and clubs.