AliYağızŞen, aka Jarolim Gayri, born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, is an Oakland-based musician, singer/songwriter, performer, bouzouki teacher, writer and an academic linguist. He’s performed with numerous acts in the Bay and in Turkey, including Metanastys, Orchestra Euphonos, Balkalicious Fire Drive and Hadi Dede. Lately, he’s been working on producing his first album of his originals, inspired by all the musics of the world he has passionately listened to in his life, including Rebetika, Progressive Rock, Delta Blues, Funk, Turkish Folk, and many more. Jarolim values and enjoys unpredictability that doesn’t try too hard for sophistication for the sake of sophistication in music, some kind-hearted disruptive progression, well-cooked and un-blatant fusion with solid groove and room for improvisation.
Zina Pozen is a longtime collaborator. She grew up in Ukraine and has been playing accordion in the Bay Area Balkan and Eastern European folk music scene.
