Orhan Demir

Orhan Demir, a guitarist born in Turkey and now based in Toronto, weaves Middle Eastern elements into his creative improvisations rooted in jazz. As a highly adaptable player, he excels in crafting lyrical single-line melodies that echo the styles of Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, and Pat Martino. His skill shines just as brightly in energetic tracks with rock edges that bring to mind fusion players like John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell.

After relocating to Canada at fourteen, Demir encountered jazz and soon obtained his initial guitar. Although he issued Sultan of Strings, a recording for solo acoustic guitar consisting of well-known jazz standards, his main focus remains on smaller ensembles. A trio including bassist Neil Swainson and drummer Barry Elmes appears on four of his releases: The Way I See You, North West, Guitar Plus, and Originals. For Windmill, he opted for another trio lineup with Rick Lazaroff handling bass and Jack Vorvis on drums. Tenor saxophonist Francois Briere makes an appearance on the album Hot Cargo.