Başak Yavuz

Başak Yavuz (Ph.D), a leading jazz figure from Turkiye now based in Berlin, embodies cross-cultural exchange through her international projects. After winning the Nardis Jazz Competition in 2008, she earned a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and completed her doctoral studies in Istanbul, with her dissertation entitled: "The Impact of Twentieth Century Music Theory on John Coltrane's Performances and Compositions." Başak has performed internationally, with her debut album recorded in New York featuring jazz legend Dave Liebman, followed by a second album recorded in Istanbul. She has taught at Bahcesehir and Bilgi Universities and founded Turkey's only singer-songwriter collective. Her latest album, RAUM 610, recorded in Berlin and released this year by Rumi Sounds, has been praised for its zappa'esque qualities, demonstrating her ability to push musical boundaries. In addition to her musical releases, Başak contributes to various productions as a vocalist, songwriter, producer, arranger, vocal coach, and songwriting coach. She is passionate about interdisciplinary collaborations, exploring new artistic frontiers. Her latest composition, "Yoklar," has been reviewed as a bold, sincere, and unpredictable project, reflecting her commitment to creating music that challenges and inspires.