Gary Barone’s Orientet plays world jazz that combines the old music of Turkey and Bulgaria with jazz and improvisation elements. With attention to the fine details, the quintet plays a kind chamber music that is very entertaining. The musical focus is on listening, alert interplay and communication.

The program features traditional Oriental pieces alternating with new compositions of Gary Barone.

Violina Sauleva: Viola
Born in Bulgaria

Violina studied at the Mannheim-Heidelberg Conservatory. She has been the Assistent Solo Viola player in the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra since 1998.

Violina is interested in Near East music and makes study trips to India and Turkey to further her knowledge and experience.
In 2002 she, along with Shakir Ertek and Karim Othman Hassan, founded the Ensemble Zirafkand, which concentrates on early Ottoman court music.

At the present time, Viola plays in various chamber music ensembles in and around Freiburg.

Shakir Ertek: drums and percussion
Born in Istanbul.

During his journalism studies at the Univerisity of Istanbul, Shakir played rock, blues and Turkish music with various groups.
He has lived in Germany since 1978, and studied drums at the Frankfurt Musikwerkstatt.

He has played in various ensembles as percussionist as well as drum set player - with the Chris Jarrett Trio, Ensemble Zifafkand, Les Haulz et les Bas, Tributo Armonico Austria, Fis Füz ..., and has played concerts in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Morocco, Iran und Israel.

Shakir is the author of the drum method book Turkish Rhythms for Drum Set and Kudüm (Leu Publishers). He also teaches percussion and rhythm at the "Jugendmusikschule Südlicher Breisgau" and gives workshops for children and well as adults.

Gary is an arranger and composes songs and lyrics: his songs, lyrics and arrangements can be heard on his own CDs and appear also in written form (De Haske Publications). He is also the author of the books Modern Studies for the Trumpet and Modern Jazz Duets.

Gary currently teaches at the Jazz & Rock Shule Freiburg, leads the Gary Barone BigBand, and holds improvisation workshops.

Max Zentawer: guitar
Born in Frankfurt

Max Zentawer has been a well-known studio and live guitarist in Germany for a long time. His large range of stylistic expression allows him to feel at home in various genres.
That is shown in numerous CD productions in which the Freiburger has taken part. He can be heard live with his own projects, such as "Trio Arts" oder "Saudade Nova."

Max has also played concerts with:
Gary Barone, Jesse Bennett, Keith Copeland, Matthias Daneck, Deviana Daudsjah, Axel Fischbacher, Daniel Fricker, Hendrik Gosmann, Norbert Gottschalk, Tilmann Günther, Frank Haunschild, Bernd Heitzler, Gregor Hilbe, Nozomi Itani, Ingrid Jensen, Harald Kimmig, Frank Kirchner, German Klaiber, David Klein, Tom Lorenz, Hiram Mutschler, Alexander Paeffgen, Rick Peckham, Niki Reiser, Christoph Sauer, Dieter Schröder, Matt Smith, Christoph Spendel, Matthias Stich, John Stowell, Tom Timmler, Cecile Verny.

Max Zentawer is an instructor at the Jazz & Rock Schulen Freiburg and a much-in-demand workshop teacher in Germany and abroad.

Christian Bachmann: bass
Born 1970 in Zürich, Switzerland

Christian’s musical journey began at the age of 8 with the recorder flute. At the age of 10, he began classical piano lessons, and started playing the bass when he was 17 years old. From 2001 - 2006 he studied at the Jazzschule Basel.

He is active as a studio and live musician in jazz, rock and blues groups: Real Booked, Tonda, Monster-Jam, Roland Bucher, Bluestones, Greenstones.

He is also active as a bass teacher.

Contact: Gary Barone's Orientet