About..
Tolga During is an internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer whose music bridges jazz, gypsy jazz, Mediterranean traditions, and world music. Born in Istanbul and raised in the Netherlands, he discovered the music of Django Reinhardt at a young age, shaping a style that is both rooted in tradition and open to exploration.
Since the release of his debut album Bohemia in 1999, he has performed at major international festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, and the Shanghai World Music Festival, earning recognition for his distinctive voice on the guitar.
Now based in Italy, Tolga continues to expand his musical language through innovative projects such as OttoMani and Liberdjango. He also performs on a custom-built acoustic double-neck guitar with a fretless neck. Drawing on odd meters and traditional music from across the Mediterranean, his work creates a unique and contemporary sound.
With 12 albums as a bandleader, his music has also been featured in film and television productions, including Mozart in the Jungle, Unmade Beds, Maurizio Costanzo Show, Rai 3, and productions on Netflix.
Press..
"Tolga is a musician who combines a unique and arresting style with a masterful technique. His music is striking yet remains pure and uncluttered." Turkish Daily News
"Deserves a lot, a lot of airplay, because it is very refined, flawless and above all breathtakingly beautiful!" Rootstime
"Acoustic music with links to Jazz, contemporary and middle eastern music. The sound of Tolga's guitar sometimes resembles that of an ud, reminding one of Renaud Garcia Fonds. The pieces are ambitious, well-worked compositions, that let the music breathe and invite us to a dreamlike travel. Tolga shows a very natural, nicely phrased, clear sound, and plays inspired improvisations that are disciplined and deeply musical." Francis Couvreux, Etudes Gitanes 2011
"Tolga shows an ever-renewed imagination, with fresh poetry and a stirring swing. Point Of View is one of the best swing manouche albums of the last five years." Serge Warin, Canal Blue
"Fascinating repertoire, catchy arrangements, virtuose and swinging improvisations and an incredible mastership." Akustik Gitarre, Germania
"Beautiful, powerful, and most importantly, happy!"
Dmitry Shakin, Radio Vladivostok, Russia
"Hot Stuff played with passion!"
Michael Dregni, Vintage Guitar Magazine, USA
"definitely well played"
Neri Pollastri, All About Jazz
"With the resurgence of gypsy jazz both in Europe and North America, the Tolga Quartet adds another fine voice swingin' with the best of them" Kirk Albrecht, Minor7th.com
"The music of Tolga is beautiful. He has a natural ability to make seem simple what is not simple. Virtuosity and excellent technique are second only to his beautiful melodic phrasing; Tolga is a very recognizable musician: if I hear him on records or on a stage with other 20 guitarists, I distinguish his mood, his sound." Sasà Calabrese, Peperoncino Jazz
"boundless and timeless music of unbelievable beauty" Moors Magazine
"Music of rare beauty" Alessandro Nobis, Folk Bulletin
"During’s guitar playing is the centrepiece of the ensemble. His tone is clear and expressive, and his improvisations unfold with apparently effortless fluency. He moves between rapid Reinhardt style runs and lyrical passages with a natural musicality that draws in the audience." Julian Thould, chairman of Carrick Concerts
Concerts & Festivals..
Montreux Jazzfestival (Switzerland), Shanghai World Music Festival (Cina), Bologna Jazz Festival (Italy), Royal Albert Hall (UK), International Jazzfestival Terrassa (Spain), Shetland Folk festival (Scotland), Nardis Jazzclub (Turkey), PIT (Norway), Django Festival (Poland), Killarney Summerfest (Ireland), Bansko International Jazz Festival (Bulgaria), Mavrovo Winter Festival (Macedonia), Pori International jazz Festival (Fnland), Pennabilli Django Festival (Italy), Calagonone Jazz Festival (Italy), Stranger Than Paranoia Festival (Holland), Baska Guitar Festival (Croatia), Ravenna Jazz Festival (IT), Sarzana Acoustic Guitar Meeting (IT), Meer Jazz Festival (Holland), Skopje Jazz and Wine (MK), Akbank Istanbul concert series (Turkey), Paradiso (NL), Bari Jazz Festival (IT), Teatro Comunale Imola (IT), Veszprem Utcazene (Hungaria), La Stanza della Musica Rai Tre (IT), Artusi Jazzfestival (IT), Fano Jazzfestival (IT), Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall (Armenia), Ethno Jazz Festival (Moldavia)
