Alper Yilmaz is so New York: Born in Turkey; received his economics Ph.D. at The University of California at Davis; moves to Brooklyn; writes tricky, eclectic jazz music; shreds. He’s a smart composer, writing many a clever odd-time vamp, often anchoring contrapuntal small horn-ensemble arrangements latched onto chunky harmonies and serpentine melodies. His playing, too, is sophisticated, with enough Eastern influence to make it uniquely exotic in a modern jazz setting.
- (JH)