BLACK SEA ORCHESTRA Started in 1996 on the initiative of Okay Temiz, the well-known Turkish percussionist, as the «Black Sea Art Project», this 11-member ensemble combines the greatest virtuosos from countries of the Black Sea in a single Orchestra. Each one of them being a leading musician of their country, most of them are jazz and/or classical musicians, having authentic roots in the folk music of this area something that is an important part of their creative expression in the music of the band. The coming together of the finest soloists from eight different countries of the region unleashed traditional and contemporary melodies and compositions that describe with music all the mystery that surrounds the Euxenite Pontos. Along with his distinct virtuosity, every member of the Orchestra brought along a composition upon which the rest of the soloists projected their own musical and cultural persona. In this fashion the Orchestra brought together in one music instance all the distinct cultural, religious and ethnic particularities of the musicians from the countries of the Black Sea, composing the music mosaic that the Black Sea is. For the very first time winds, Strings and timpani and other percussion instruments from Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Bulgaria, Rumania, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia come together in a single Orchestra to delineate the geographical and musical landscape that unites all the people in the area in an endless game of semblance and difference. The result is the formation of the Black Sea Orchestra and a music tone that resonates all the multi-vocality of the Black Sea, the play upon the euphemism of the Hospitable and Inhospitable Sea. In October 1998 the CD «Black Sea Project» was released by MUSURGIA GRAECA (ML 0660)/Lyra of a live Recording on 26 October 1996 in the venue of CEMAL RESIT REY KONSER SALONU in Istanbul.             Festival - Concert 1998 - Cemal Resit Rey - Konser Salonu - Turkey 2000 - Patras - Greece 2000 - Ankara Jazz Festivali - Turkey 2001 - Lizbon Festivali - Portugal