Thread: new cd by Omar Faruk Tekbilek

admittedly i am very biased as he is one of my faves..i am downloading it from itunes now :) wanted to let you guys know there's a new release (not sure how new it's been awhile since i was on the site)

also concerts going on in California..lucky lucky!!! i've been to a live show and it was amazing

Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Ooh, give us a review soon!

He is an amazing amazing musician. He rarely, rarely plays for dancers any more as it does not fit in with his spiritual beliefs. I was lucky enough to have him sit in with the band last spring on one my trips to NYC, though. I'm still thrilled I had that opportunity. :)

Yay a new OFT release - hoorah - my fave musician.

Having said that, I saw him live a couple of years ago in London and I was really disappointed. I thought I was missing something, then one of the audience members stood up and shouted "this is sh*t - last time was much better". IT was a very cringeworthy moment. She was hustled out.

It felt like he'd got together with his friends for a jamming session and we weren't invited somehow. But hopefully it was a one-off. Technically it was fab.

My students all love him too because I use so much of his stuff in class (which he wouldn't approve of if it offends his spiritual beliefs - oops!!).

Originally Posted by Freddie

Yay a new OFT release - hoorah - my fave musician.

Having said that, I saw him live a couple of years ago in London and I was really disappointed. I thought I was missing something, then one of the audience members stood up and shouted "this is sh*t - last time was much better". IT was a very cringeworthy moment. She was hustled out.

It felt like he'd got together with his friends for a jamming session and we weren't invited somehow. But hopefully it was a one-off. Technically it was fab.

My students all love him too because I use so much of his stuff in class (which he wouldn't approve of if it offends his spiritual beliefs - oops!!).

wow, how embarrassing for her.

the show I was at, it was a tiny bookstore..i'll find pics..i stalked him after the show to thank him for his inspiration to dance and of course a photo. also once saw him in the LA airport and about fell down.

the bookstore show was nothing less than amazing..i was with my ex husband whom i had converted into a fan (he still adores) ..we were all seated at first but finally i escaped to the back where there was a tiny place to spin with veils..soon other dancers joined me and we filled the back of the room. it was magic

Ooh that sounds wonderful. I would go see him again, but maybe a different venue. This one was at the Barbican and although it wasn't the largest venue, it did feel really impersonal.

When I win the lottery I will arrange a private performance just for the Bhuzzers.

can we have Hossam Ramzy there too? hey why not all night jam :)

pics from show ..this was ohh ..well a few years ago

pics are kinda large , so can be viewed at

The Morning Bleat: Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Originally Posted by jesennia

can we have Hossam Ramzy there too? hey why not all night jam :)

Yeh and we'll bring in Natacha Atlas and Oojami. Sod it, let's make it a festival.

Great photos btw, dead jealous here!

I think Faruk is pretty much a musical genius. I didn't know he had stopped playing for dancers. I guess I feel pretty lucky to have experienced his music live the two times I attended the Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance camp.

John B. was there, too, also Souren Baronian and Haig Manookian, also Necati Celik, the fabulous oud player from Turkey. I will never, ever, ever, forget the feeling I had sitting NEXT to Necati around the fire pit late at night as he played the oud. I though I'd gone to heaven! Super nice man, too. Necati plays for Sufi semas and such but the Sufis don't seem to mind belly dancing at all.
Faruk's wife dances, did they separate?

Originally Posted by dunyah

... the Sufis don't seem to mind belly dancing at all.
Faruk's wife dances, did they separate?

This is what I was thinking - one of the things that attracted me to Sufism in the first place was the inclusion of women and their tolerance of dance. And yes, of course, his wife is a dancer ... hmmmmmm

Originally Posted by Freddie

This is what I was thinking - one of the things that attracted me to Sufism in the first place was the inclusion of women and their tolerance of dance. And yes, of course, his wife is a dancer ... hmmmmmm

They see a difference in oriental dance and folk dance. His wife actually called me and very politely asked me to take down my tagged photo on myspace. It's still on my website, just not labeled with his name
mezzo mezzo samira
Yes, dance is fine for most Sufis. However, after a over a decade of dancers getting up and dancing to the call to prayer during his concerts, the acceptance might be a little dampened.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

They see a difference in oriental dance and folk dance. His wife actually called me and very politely asked me to take down my tagged photo on myspace. It's still on my website, just not labeled with his name
mezzo mezzo samira
Yes, dance is fine for most Sufis. However, after a over a decade of dancers getting up and dancing to the call to prayer during his concerts, the acceptance might be a little dampened.

Aha it makes sense now. And yes and the "call to prayer dancing" would have that effect!

Is Sabriye Tekbilek his niece? Sabriye Tekbilek

Hi Dunyah,
Yes, I am his niece, :)

I don't see the album on iTunes. What am I missing?

Originally Posted by sabriyetj

Hi Dunyah,
Yes, I am his niece, :)

You are part of a very talented family!

Are you talking about "Tree of Patience"? It's lovely. It was released in 2006.

Tree of Patience

Originally Posted by jesennia

admittedly i am very biased as he is one of my faves..i am downloading it from itunes now :) wanted to let you guys know there's a new release (not sure how new it's been awhile since i was on the site)

also concerts going on in California..lucky lucky!!! i've been to a live show and it was amazing

Omar Faruk Tekbilek

And wasn' there one in 2007? Alif?

On his site, Alif is marked as 2002.

Originally Posted by TribalDancer

And wasn' there one in 2007? Alif?

oh did i have the date wrong? my apologies

should i remove the photo from my blog??

Sharon did you find it on itunes. bummer for me i downloaded it and my computer died the next day before i could transfer it to ipod so i have to re-buy it pfffft

Originally Posted by sabriyetj

Hi Dunyah,
Yes, I am his niece, :)

how wonderful to meet you!! welcome to bhuz ..g.:

Originally Posted by jesennia

how wonderful to meet you!! welcome to bhuz ..g.:

Thanks to you and to you Dunyah for your kind words.

I have used his call to prayer in my cool downs in class. I tell people what it is (some Christians have a real hard time appreciating it) and I use it as a moving meditation. It usually bring tears of gratitude to my eyes.