Description
With Fermata, Turkish fretless guitarist and composer Cenk Erdogan redefined the role of the fretless guitar as a compositional instrument. Rather than presenting the instrument as a vehicle for virtuosity, Erdogan placed composition at the heart of the recording, expanding the expressive possibilities of the fretless guitar through a deeply personal musical language.
Built entirely around Cenk Erdogan's original works, Fermata moves fluidly between contemporary jazz, chamber music, folk traditions, and cinematic lyricism. Melody, silence, and harmonic colour unfold with equal importance, creating an intimate sound world where nuance speaks louder than complexity.
"Fermata was born from a desire to discover what the fretless guitar could become when Composition, not technique, was allowed to lead the way," Erdogan reflects. "I wanted the instrument to become part of a broader musical language."
Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike in both Turkey and abroad, Fermata became a defining milestone in Erdogan's artistic journey. The album's impact significantly expanded his international profile, leading to new collaborations, festival appearances, and concert invitations across Europe and beyond. More than a defining moment in Erdogan's career, Fermata broadened the creative horizons of the fretless guitar while reaffirming the enduring power of melody, space, and composition.
Mastered by Thomas Eberger, Stockholm Mastering and pressed on 180g vinyl at Vinyl De Paris, France.
Cenk Erdogan: fretless and fretted guitars, bowed tambour
Mehmet Ikiz: drums
Baran Say: double bass
Ismail Tuncbilek: baglama
Velican Sagun: percussion
Golnar Shahyar: vocal
Sibel Gursoy, Tuba Onal, Dunya Kizilcay: vocal