Recognized worldwide as a virtuosic percussionist, Burhan Ocal has made the bridging of musical cultures his central mission. A native of Kirklareli in the Thrace region, he grew up in a musical family. From his father, he learned a variety of percussion instruments, while his mother introduced him to religious vocal music. After his first contact with Western music, he became interested in combining a multitude of genres and cultural traditions, such as jazz and Western classical music, with his own. Burhan Ocal's instruments are as diverse as his music. In addition to a ...