Murat Öztürk – Simple Things

Murat Öztürk offers us music that is eminently vocal here, not only because he has enlisted two singers but also because his compositions are highly melodic and his piano playing has a distinctly cantabile quality.

Simple Things, as the CD title suggests, and indeed Öztürk gives the impression that his music flows naturally and effortlessly.

A sensitive touch, fluid phrasing, a vision of harmony devoid of excessive sophistication… these are just a few of the characteristics of the pianist’s playing, and his themes—even those without the two vocalists—sound like songs for which the pianist has often written the lyrics. The singers, for their part, bring an extra touch of lyricism to this music, and both are deeply invested in developing themes for which they have sometimes written the lyrics.

Two other instrumentalists add their “voices” in places: a trumpet and a French horn, producing an original ensemble sound to which the double bass and drums provide first-rate support.

This is, therefore, music that is both highly arranged and utterly natural, presented by a pianist whose maturity as an instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader shines through admirably. A musician to watch very closely.