Yinon Muallem, a composer and percussionist that doubles as an Israeli cultural attaché in Turkey, has recently released his sixth album, “Funky Dervish,” together with his Rast Ensemble.
The album creates a unique and surprising fusion between Turkish and Jewish music as well as other music genres. Adding the sounds of the piano, drum set, trombone, trumpet and electric guitar to those of traditional Turkish instruments, they strive to create an original blend between their Mediterranean roots and styles like jazz, rock and funk.
Muallem, who has Iraqi origins, was born in Israel in 1968. In 2002 he moved to Istanbul and joined the group of “Istanbul Sazendeleri,” playing with them all over Turkey and Europe. Later he founded his own group, Rast Ensemble, while joining the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra as a soloist. Later, he released the album “Skin&Strings” with harpist Şirin Pancaroğlu, together traveling with the artist around Turkey, Europe and Israel.
Muallem has conducted different intercultural projects between Israeli, Turkish and musicians from other countries. Since September 2011, Muallem has also been serving as the cultural attaché of Israel in Istanbul.
Cem Bergamalı: Asma Davul (3)
Cenk Erdoğan: Acoustic Guitar (3,5,8,10); Electric Fretless Guitar (9); Electric Guitar (1,4,6); Fretless Guitar (8); Keyboard (5)
Guy Mintus: Piano (1,4)
Haig Yazdjian: Ud (5)
Hakan Gürbüz: Bass Guitar
Hasan Gözetlik: Trombone, Trumpet (7)
Hüsnü Şenlendirici: Clarinet (3)
KeKeÇa (Ayşe Akarsu, Gökçe Gürçay): Vocal & Body Percussion (6)
Mehtap Demir: Vocal (4,10)
Mümin Sesler: Kanun (7)
Selim Koytak: Ud (1,2,3,4,8,9)
Sinan Cem Eroğlu: Kaval (1,3,4,5,6,8,9)
Volkan İnçüvez: Ney (10)
Yinon Muallem: Arrangement
Yinon Muallem: Percussion
Yinon Muallem: Ud (7,10)
Yinon Muallem: Vocal (1,4,9,10)
Zohar Fresco: Percussion (7) Produced by: Ahenk Muzik - İsmail Yılmaz
Recorded by: Cenk Erdogan - Undo Studio
Mixed by: Cenk Erdogan
Mastered by: Mike Wells
