Umut Çağlar is also the project manager and creator of re:konstrukt who has reached until now 58 releases. Having the chance of collaborate with local and international musicians, Umut Çağlar promotes performances and recordings moving around from total noise to total improv concerts.
In re:konstrukt they are open to all the venues while improv still there as the essence and principal axe of the music environment created by the combination of different backgrounds.
In re:konstrukt they are open to all the venues while improv still there as the essence and principal axe of the music environment created by the combination of different backgrounds.
He performed at Saalfelden Jazz Festival, Krakow Jazz Autumn, Akbank Jazz Festival, Sant’anna Arresi Jazz Festival. He collaborated with avantgarde jazz legends as Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, Marshall Allen, Eugene Chadbourne, Okay Temiz and more with his band konstrukt for live concerts and recordings. He released 5 albums as konstrukt and 2 albums as dead country. He founded the online record label re:konstrukt which operated from 2008 to 2011 and released over 60 albums worldwide (including downloads, cd & cd-r). Lately, produced a 4 x LP compilation Turkish Free Music boxset which is released in Italy.
Wenninger Bauer Çaglar
What do you remember about your first instrument?
- It was this old hollowbody electric purchased in a second hand shop in istanbul, probably 25 years ago where i got my farfisa organ at the same year, it was too loud that i had to leave it somewhere after a couple of gigs... The guitar was anonymous - without any brand - but it sounded very nice, thanks to its genuine handmade pickup. But it was broken by the neck after 3 years of intensive use. It was a sad moment.
What led you to improvisation?
- When i was in college, probably i was 16 or 17, a family friend who became a mentor to me, introduced me the music of Ornette & Coltrane at my very early stage of my youth, so i suddenly found myself in an endless world of avant garde jazz and improvisation. Nothing was the same after that period.
Which is the main pleasure of the guitar?
- It is hard to explain, but as a musician who does not only play guitar but electric organ, a genuine '75 micromoog, flutes etc., guitar has always a special place in my sound "palette" where i can be sentimental and very very personal.
Tayfun Polat / Şevket Akıncı, Umut Çağlar, Barkın Engin, Korhan Futacı, Osman Kaytazoğlu, Sarp Keskiner, December 8 Aralık 2013
Which work of your own are you most proud of, and why?
- I recently produced a 4xLP boxset which is released through the Italian label Sagittarius A-Star and it is called Turkish Free Music. For me, the highlight of these recordings is the first encounter of my two local heroes of avant garde music in Turkey, Hüseyin Ertunç & Okay Temiz. I am really proud of this gathering which was my dream for a longtime and which turned out to be a fantastic performance and recording...
Where are your roots? What are your influences?
- It all started by discovering the free jazz, then i worked as a dj for 10 years where i was introduced to electronics, but lately i found myself in search of my roots by digging the mystical sounds of Anatolia and Middle East. Probably all melts not in a proportional way but it is not hard to trace the footprints.
What are your motivations for playing?
- To hear the "sound".
Norbert R. Stammberger | sax, Alexandre Toisoul | clarinet Umut Çağlar | guitar Florent Merlet | drums
Define the sound you're still looking for, or the sound you'd like to hear.
- Colorful & Surprising - I can imagine an african face painting made by Art Ensemble of Chicago.
Which were the first and the last records you bought with your own money?
- The very first record that i have bought was Ornette Coleman's "Prime Time & Quartet" LP - In All Languages and the last one is Hüseyin Ertunç Trio's Musiki LP which i was able to locate after 2 years...
What was the best moment of your musician career?
- First meeting with Marshall Allen for a recording session which took place in Istanbul, it had this magical vibration where everybody felt something special had happened that night.
A valuable advice that someone has gifted to you in the past?
What's your special device in the sound chain?
- My good old Mu-Tron Phasor is my sweetheart.
What artist, living or dead, would you like to have collaborated with?
- Poets are great to work with, although we recorded with Joe McPhee lately and I asked him to read a poem on the recording. That was special to hear his voice afterwards when I listen to the recording.
What’s your latest project about?
- Lately, my main focus is my band Konstrukt and we have just performed & recorded with Brötzmann & McPhee in Istanbul, so new LPs could be expected anytime and a couple of gigs in Europe, as well...
What was the best moment of your musician career?
- First meeting with Marshall Allen for a recording session which took place in Istanbul, it had this magical vibration where everybody felt something special had happened that night.
A valuable advice that someone has gifted to you in the past?
- Play the beauty!
What's your special device in the sound chain?
- My good old Mu-Tron Phasor is my sweetheart.
Marshall Allen, Korhan Futacı, Barlas Tan Özemek - guitar, Umut Çağlar -- guitar, guitar synth, electronics
Özün Usta, Korhan Argüden
What artist, living or dead, would you like to have collaborated with?
- Poets are great to work with, although we recorded with Joe McPhee lately and I asked him to read a poem on the recording. That was special to hear his voice afterwards when I listen to the recording.
What’s your latest project about?
- Lately, my main focus is my band Konstrukt and we have just performed & recorded with Brötzmann & McPhee in Istanbul, so new LPs could be expected anytime and a couple of gigs in Europe, as well...