Erkan, Levent and Kenan Özdemir are excited to announce the arrival of their debut album „Introducing the Özdemirs“. We recorded the tracks between tour dates with Johnny Raws in the Fall of 2021, added some overdubs in May of 2022 and had a fun release celebration with 200 friends at our local dive „Hot Jazz Club“ between christmas & new years. Thank you for all the support, and see you on the road!
Introducing The Özdemirs
The Özdemirs are a talented group of blues and roots musicians who just happen to be family. Bassist Erkan Özdemir, besides being the father of the other two members of the group, has been booking and touring with American and European blues, soul and roots musicians for decades. Erkan’s love of American music has been so infectious that his sons caught the blues and roots bug at an early age. Kenan Özdemir- guitar and vocals and Levent Özdemir- drums and vocals, have become accomplished musicians in their own right and have toured extensively on their own and backing artists like Memo Gonzalez, Kirk Fletcher, Shawn Pittman, Sugar Ray Rayford, Mike Morgan, Holland K, Smith, Angela Brown and even soul singer Johnny Rawls. They have toured from Norway to Denmark, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain honing their chops, their ears and musical feel. This band has learned to be a cohesive unit by the experience of constant work playing their own shows and backing other artists.
This new recording, „Introducing the Özdemirs“ is an impressive recording debut with a lot of variety, grooving rhythm and original songs that reflect their love for blues, soul, funk and even R & B ballads. The right amount of rock and roll is also mixed in there to give them a contemporary flair. Armed with strong grooves and their own songs, the Özdemirs offer a new twist on a traditional theme. The use of a horn section led by Sax Gordon, the addition of female background vocals, guest appearance by Trudy Lynn plus Harnmond organ and piano to fill in with production touches, helps give the record that extra lift. lt is truly a special debut album that is sure to attract attention everywhere.
The core band of Kenan, Levent and Erkan Özdemir can rock the hause as a trio and give the audience a powerful show by themselves. Add in a few additional elements to their sound for their debut recording and you have a fabulous introduction to The Özdemirs! Check them out, and tell them Duke sent you…
Duke Robillard
