Atilla Engin

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Atilla Engin | image = Atilla Engin 1.jpg | birth_name = | birth_date = 1946 | birth_place = Kayseri, Turkey | death_date = 2 November 2019<ref name="20191104-MOA" /> | death_place = Paranaguá, Brazil | genre = Jazz, jazz fusion, jazz rock, world music | occupation = Musician, composer, educator | instrument = Drums, percussion | years_active = 1966–2010<ref name="gaffa2011" /> | label = | past_member_of = Istanbul Orchestra, Turquoise, Matao, New World Orchestra | website = {{URL|atillaengin.com}} }}

'''Atilla Engin''' (1946–2019) was a Turkish American fusion jazz drummer. From 1974 to 2001 he was active in Denmark as a musician and educator; he organized music festivals and represented Denmark as a musical ambassador. In 2001, he left Denmark for the United States, where he formed an orchestra.

==Biography== [[Image:Atilla Engin group Feat. Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen-Denmark.jpg|thumb|right|Atilla Engin Group: Atilla Engin, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Uffe Markussen 1987]] [[Image:WORLD To WORLD FESTIVAL Nana Vosconcelos-Birger Sulsbruck-Zakir Hussain-pAhmadu Jarr-Atilla Engin Copenhagen.jpg|thumb|right|World to World Festival 1986. Left to right: Nana Vasconcelos, Birger Sulsbruck, Zakir Hussain, Ahmadu Jarr, and Atilla at the end of Jazzhus Montmartre show.]] thumb|right|Tyrkis 1987 [[Image:Atilla Engin TYRKIS BIG BAND Denmark 1987.jpg|thumb|right|Tyrkis at the Midtfyns Festival Denmark 1987]] thumb|right

Engin first played and recorded in Istanbul, moving to Copenhagen in 1974, and playing with several groups. He released his first album ''Turkish Delight'' with the band ''Matao''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/27555.html|title= In uk.launch.yahoo.com about group Matao and Atilla Engin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bibliotek.dk/vis.php?base=&field_aar=year_eq&field1=lfo&term1=Matao |title=Matao ''Turkish Delight'' at Danish Library |publisher=Bibliotek.dk |access-date=2010-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727144038/http://bibliotek.dk/vis.php?base=&field_aar=year_eq&field1=lfo&term1=Matao |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statsbiblioteket.dk/search/showrecord.jsp?record_id=sb_2124190 |title=''Turkish Delight'' at Danish National Library |publisher=Statsbiblioteket.dk |access-date=2010-09-18 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119231958/https://library.au.dk/nytbibliotekssystem/du-er-godt-paa-vej/?record_id=sb_2124190 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They performed at Roskilde Festival in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/frontpage/history/1979/poster/|title= Atilla Engin's group Matao at the Roskilde Festival – Denmark 1979 }}</ref> His other group, Atilla Engin Group, released five albums.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.statsbiblioteket.dk/search/index.jsp?query=%22atilla+engin%22&first_search=true|title= The National Library of Denmark And Aarhus University Libraries }} Info about Engin's albums</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://organicmusic.jp/?mode=srh&sort=n&keyword=atilla+engin|title= Atilla Engin's Recordings in Organic Music Japan }}</ref> While he was recording and touring with his band, he taught at the Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory for four years.<ref>{{cite web|work= atillaengin.com |url= http://www.atillaengin.com/copenhagenjazzconservatory.htm|title= Atilla Engin – Teaching at Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory Denmark 1986–1989|access-date= 2010-09-18 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101022120541/http://atillaengin.com/copenhagenjazzconservatory.htm|archive-date= October 22, 2010|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Engin formed a band with 12 Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory students and they toured Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://bibliotek.dk/linkme.php?ccl=lid%3D73357586+og+lok%3D870971&fortit=Danskere+spiller+op+til+dans++Atilla+Engin++I%3A+Udkig%2C+1989%2C+nr.+2|title= Danish National Library}}</ref>

In 1985 Engin was awarded Composer of the Year in Denmark. In the same year, the Atilla Engin Group was appointed Denmark's cultural ambassador to represent the country in conjunction with the European Music Year 1985.<ref>{{cite web |work=atillaengin.com |url=http://www.atillaengin.com/europeanmusicyear1985.htm |title=European Music Year 1985 – Atilla Engin Group To Turkey |access-date=2010-09-18 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Engin established the World to World Drums and Percussion Festival in Copenhagen with events taking place in Aarhus and Malmö, Sweden. The festival included performances by Zakir Hussain, Airto Moreira, Nana Vasconcelos, Peter Giger, and Danny Gottlieb.<ref name="World to World">{{cite web |url=http://dvm.nu/hierarchy/periodical/mm/1987/01/?show=data/periodical/a/6/b/1987%2001%2016.tkl&type=periodical |title=''World to World'' |publisher=Danish Music Magazine MM, Author Jens Jørn Gjedsted, March 1986, Info by Virtuelle Musik Bibliotek dvm.nu |access-date=2010-10-11 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work= atillaengin.com|url= http://www.atillaengin.com/worldtoworld_denmark.htm|title= World to World International Drums&Percussion Festival 1986-87-88 Denmark |access-date= 2010-09-18 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707183006/http://www.atillaengin.com/worldtoworld_denmark.htm|archive-date= July 7, 2011 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all}}</ref> He participated in Tal Vadhya Utsav in India.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://sangeetnatak.org/SNA_Archives/Videos_1981_1990.htm|title= Tal Vadhya Utsav International Percussion Festival|access-date= August 15, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110727234218/http://sangeetnatak.org/SNA_Archives/Videos_1981_1990.htm|archive-date= July 27, 2011|url-status= dead}}</ref>

He taught an evening class of 16 young musicians at the ''Rhythmic Evening School'' in Copenhagen in 1984, turning them into a band named Tyrkis<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.atillaengin.com/tyrkis.htm |work= atillaengin.com |title= Info About Tyrkis' Activities And Articles |access-date= 2010-09-18 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707183506/http://www.atillaengin.com/tyrkis.htm |archive-date= July 7, 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> which performed at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen. In 1987, Tyrkis won first prize at the Dortmunder Big Band Festival in Germany and released an album, ''My Little Chinese Love''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.statsbiblioteket.dk/search/showrecord.jsp?record_id=sb_547917 |work= National Library of Denmark |title= ''My Little Chinese Love'' |access-date= 2010-10-18 |archive-date= January 19, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220119231958/https://library.au.dk/nytbibliotekssystem/du-er-godt-paa-vej/?record_id=sb_547917 |url-status= dead }}statsbiblioteket.dk</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atillaengin.com/tyrkis.htm|work=atillaengin.com|title=TYRKIS Big Band Winning 1. Prize in Dortmund|access-date=2010-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707183506/http://www.atillaengin.com/tyrkis.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=dead}} Five news articles (from Denmark) about winning the prize, MM magazine's review mentioning the prize (marked in blue) and photos from the Dortmund Big Band Festival</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.atillaengin.com/atillaengin_crosscultural_ambassador.htm|title = Music Magazine MM From Denmark Coded TYRKIS: A Phenomenon|work = atillaengin.com|accessdate = September 18, 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110904152638/http://www.atillaengin.com/atillaengin_crosscultural_ambassador.htm|archive-date = September 4, 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref>

He left Denmark in 1989 for New York and formed the New World Orchestra<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.istanbulive.org/2010/producers.htm|title= A celebration of Turkish Music |publisher=Istanbulive.org }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=atillaengin.com|url=http://www.atillaengin.com/newworldorchestracarnegiehall.htm|title=Atilla Engin's US Première at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall)|access-date=2010-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707183317/http://www.atillaengin.com/newworldorchestracarnegiehall.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and a six-piece group, ''Turquoise''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r1100_082.htm|title= A review of Turquoise's album Mosaic of Anatolia in All About Jazz|access-date= August 9, 2010|archive-date= February 18, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090218174402/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r1100_082.htm|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzreview.com/cdreview.cfm?ID=1828|title= A review of Turquoise's album Mosaic of Anatolia in Jazz Review Magazine |access-date= August 9, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090217132608/http://www.jazzreview.com/cdreview.cfm?ID=1828|archive-date= February 17, 2009|url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> Engin left the US for Brazil in 2005.

In 2010 he was diagnosed with cerebral haemorrhage, and sat in a wheelchair unable to speak.<ref name="gaffa2011">{{in lang|da}} {{cite news |url=https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/53199/svaert-at-give-atilla-besked-om-les-djinns-sagen |title=Svært at give Atilla besked om Les Djinns-sagen |work=Gaffa |date=3 November 2011 |access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref> Atilla Engin died in Brazil the 2nd November 2019.<ref name="20191104-MOA">{{in lang|tr}} {{cite news |url=http://muzikonair.com/unlu-muzisyen-hayatini-kaybetti/ |title=Ünlü Müzisyen Hayatını Kaybetti |work=Musik On Air |date=4 November 2019 |access-date=5 November 2019}}</ref>

==His bands== ===Copenhagen 1977–89=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! MATAO 1977–81 |- | * Atilla Engin – Drums & Perc., comp. & arranger * Svend Staal Larsen – Guitar * Torben Gronning – Bass * Alan Stade – Keyboards |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Atilla Engin Group 1981–89 |- | * Atilla Engin – Drums & Perc., comp., arranger * Svend Staal Larsen – Guitar * Mehmet Ozan, Percussion * Okay Temiz, Percussion – Featured * Arto Tunçboyaciyan, Perc., voices – Featured * Ole Matthissen, Piano, synth * Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Bass – Feat. * Hugo Rasmussen, Bass * Jens Jefsen, Bass * Niels Praestholm, Bass * Jens Melgaard, Bass * Ole Thøer Nielsen, Alto sax, flute * Simon Cato Spang Hansen, Tenor & Sopr. sax * Uffe Markussen, Tenor sax – Featured * Jens Winther Trumpet * Birgitte Møller, Tenor sax, voices |}

===New York 1992–2002=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! New World Orchestra 1992–95 |- | * Atilla Engin – Percussion, composer & arranger * Ted 'Mino'Gori – Drums * Scott Brass – Bass * Ray Ippolito – Guitar * Todd Billingley – Keyboard * Todd Horton – trumpet * Patricia (Englert) Julien – Flute * Atilla's US Première in 1993 * * At Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) |}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Turquoise 1996–99 |- | * Atilla Engin – Djembe Drums, Perc., comp., arr. * Ray Ippolito – Guitar * Stephan Crump – Bass * Adam Klipple – Keyboards * Erik Lawrence – Alto sax * Dan Jordan – Tenor sax, Sopr. sax, Flute * Gilad – Percussion |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! The Istanbul Orchestra 2000–01 |- | * Atilla Engin – Conductor, Perc., comp., arranger * Aaron Comess – Drums * Gilad – Percussion * Frank Colon – Percussion * Ray Ippolito – Guitar * Stephan Crump – Bass * Michael Wolff – Keyboards * Rave Tesar – Keyboards * Erik Lawrence – Alto sax * Dan Jordan – Tenor sax, Sopr. sax, Flute * Dan Willis – Tenor sax * Lauren Seviyan – Baritone sax * Frank Vacin – Baritone sax * Eddie Henderson – Trumpet * Chuck MacKinnon – Trumpet * Kevin Bryan – Lead trumpet * Todd Horton – Trumpet * Andrew Lippman – Trombone * Marya Lawrence – Vocals |}

== Discography == * ''Felek Usta'' (Evren, 1971) * ''Kumsalda'' (Yonca, 1974) Vocals: Özdemir Erdoğan (Lyrics, music, arrangement, drums, piano: Atilla Engin<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9waVv0JhgNo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9waVv0JhgNo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title= Kumsalda Özdemir Erdoğan|website=YouTube |date=April 26, 2010 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> * ''Bütün İçkiler Benden Bu Gece'' (Yonca, 1974) Vocals: Alpay (Lyrics, music, arrangement: Atilla Engin) * ''Turkish Delight'', Group Matao (RA, 1979) * ''Atatürk's Children and Nasrettin Hoca'' (Fairytale, 1980)<ref>{{cite web|work= atillaengin.com|url= http://www.atillaengin.com/ataturkun_cocuklari.htm|title= Cover Art For Atatürk's Children And Nasrettin Hoca |access-date= August 10, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707182842/http://www.atillaengin.com/ataturkun_cocuklari.htm|archive-date= July 7, 2011|url-status= dead |df= mdy-all}}</ref> * ''Solens Børn'' with Ariel(19), (Pick Up, 1980) * ''Nazar'' (Danish Music Productions, 1982)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statsbiblioteket.dk/search/showrecord.jsp?record_id=sb_2130850 |title=Atilla Engin Group – ''Nazár'' (Vinyl, LP, Album) info at Danish National Library |publisher=Statsbiblioteket.dk |access-date=2010-10-08 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119232004/https://library.au.dk/nytbibliotekssystem/du-er-godt-paa-vej/?record_id=sb_2130850 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ''Memories'', Atilla Engin Group (including Okay Temiz on percussion, Hugo Rasmussen on bass, Jens Winther on trumpet) (Danish Music Productions, 1984)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statsbiblioteket.dk/search/showrecord.jsp?record_id=sb_2140671 |title=Atilla Engin Group – ''Memories'' (Vinyl, LP, Album) info at Danish National Library |publisher=Statsbiblioteket.dk |access-date=2010-10-08 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119231958/https://library.au.dk/nytbibliotekssystem/du-er-godt-paa-vej/?record_id=sb_2140671 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ''Marmaris Love'' with Okay Temiz (Danish Music Productions, 1986) * ''No Money No Honey'' with Arto Tunçboyacıyan) (Danish Music Productions) * ''My Little Chinese Love'', Tyrkis Big Band conducted by Atilla Engin (Stunt) * ''Melo Perquana'', Atilla Engin Group with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen) (Olufsen, 1988) * ''Mosaic of Anatolia'', Group Turquoise (Istanbul, 1999) * ''Moon Dog Girl'' by the Noodle Shop (John Kruth, Elliott Sharp, Atilla Engin and Jonathan Segel) (Sparkling Beatnik, 1999) * ''Ocean of Emotion'', The İstanbul Orchestra – Group Turquoise (2009)

== References == {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links == {{Commons}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100617043822/http://www.atillaengin.com/ Official site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Engin, Atilla}} Category:1946 births Category:2019 deaths Category:20th-century American drummers Category:American jazz composers Category:American jazz drummers Category:American male drummers Category:Jazz arrangers Category:Jazz fusion drummers Category:Jazz fusion percussionists Category:American male jazz composers Category:People from Kayseri Category:Turkish emigrants to the United States Category:Turkish jazz drummers Category:American world music musicians Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:Olufsen Records artists