BIO
Esat Ekincioglu (Istanbul, 1990) is a Turkish/Dutch bass player, improviser, composer and manager based in Groningen, the Netherlands. A versatile and in-demand bass player, Esat spends much of the year on the road, playing throughout Europe, the Near East and China. Notable concerts include Jazzahead Showcase 2023 & 2025, ZomerJazzFietsTour, Shanghai World Music Festival, Bimhuis, Rockit Festival, Jazzfestival Saalfelden, Cully Jazz Festival, Babel Sound Festival, Jazz in Duketown, Nisville Jazz Festival, Burghausen Jazzwoche, Garana Jazz Festival. Medimex, Istanbul Jazz Festival, and many more.
Apart from his successful bands KUHN FU and AVA Trio – running over 10 years and hundreds of concerts, Esat likes to play solo and in duos where he explores unknown areas of double bass playing, improvisation and microtonal music.
As an active manager and booker, Esat is running his own Chilli Chilli Agency – for spicy music. Check the website for roster and bookings. New additions include cult Turkish saxophonist Korhan Futaci, Bushman’s Revenge, Bab L’ Bluz, Fee Aaij, . Chilli Chilli Agency
Esat uses Vanderkley Amplifiers and 050 Rosins and KNA Pickups.
BANDS
AVA Trio celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2025. With 5 critically acclaimed albums, 187 shows in 20 countries, the band continues their archeo-musicological quest into the depths of the Mediterranean civilisations.
“A wise look, full of tenderness and sensitivity, into the musical wilderness of the Mediterranean; a story that combines traditional instruments with contemporary ones, expressed in the language of modern improvisation, with respect, vision and freshness.” JazzKultura – Radio Warsaw (about JazzJantar)
with Giuseppe Doronzo (woodwinds) Pino Basile (percussions) and Ezgi Elkırmış (percussions)
KUHN FU (formed in 2012) is dedicated to Christian Kuhn’s strange take on composition and improvisation. Songs can shift direction many times within a short section and without noticing you are in a digging voodoo groove that lasts forever. The band has performed over 400 shows in 24 countries, in many of the leading venues and festivals in Europe. Genre-bending rock’n’roll jazz.
with Christian Kühn (guitar) Ziv Taubenfeld (bassclarinet) George Hadow (drums) John Dikeman (tenorsax) Sofia Salvo (barisax) and Tobias Delius (clarinet, sax) Frank Gratkowski (winds) Mateusz Rybicki (clarinet, sax)
Turkish Pumpkin improvises Near-Eastern wedding and funeral music. The band conjures trances and chants about lovers, heroes; in grief and joy. The band premiered at No Musician’s Land Exhibition by Marina Abrahamovic Institue 2020 and Zomer Jazz Fiets Tour 2020. In May 2021, the band extended to quintet, presented Esat’s VNJJ Week van de Jazz Composition Commission.
with Koen Boeinga (woodwinds) Mees Siderius (drums) Giuseppe Doronzo (woodwinds)
Steven Kamperman Trio performing original soundtrack composition for the 1926 silent animated-film “The Adventures of Prince Achmed” by director Lotte Reiniger.
The first full-length animated film ever – a milestone in European cinema, excitingly accompanied by thrilling melodies and thundering rhythms – or is it the film that accompanies the passionate musicians on stage?
Film/concert
Steven Kamperman • compositions, alto clarinet, melodica, drums Hamid Reza Behzadian • harmonica, Indian guitar, lapsteel Esat Ekincioğlu • double bass, percussions
Korhan Futacı, born in 1977, is a versatile artist based in Istanbul. Renowned for his proficiency as a saxophonist, composer, producer, singer, and songwriter, he has become a prominent figure in Turkey’s alternative music scene.
Futacı’s solo project is a fusion of traditional Turkish music and free-improvised music, delicately intertwined with the essence of Anatolia. Through his compositions, he endeavors to transform the bustling chaos of Istanbul into an immersive and ritualistic experience, characterized by energetic atmospheres, dark undertones, and abstract textures.
For bookings write to me at: chillichilliagency@gmail.com
Korhan Futacı (alto sax & vocals) Barış Ertürk (baritone sax) Esat Ekincioğlu (Double Bass) Erdem Göymen (drums)
Esat loves playing in duo settings. Two musicians really get to know each other through intimate explorations. Recent collaborations include amazing musicians from across the world : Tomchess (USA) | Berke Can Özcan (TR) | Steven Kamperman (NL) | Sanem Kalfa (TR/NL) | Yanna Pelser (NL) | Anahita Malakooti (IR) | Aleksandar Skoric (SRB) | Fatime Songoro (HU) | Marena Whitcher (CH) | Lennart Smidt (DE) | Toms Mikals (LT)
VIDEOS
DISCOGRAPHY
DATES
16 | 01 | 26 AVA Trio Antoniushof – Wiesenbach, DE
17 | 01 | 26 AVA Trio Jazzkeller Sauschdal – Ulm, DE
16 | 01 | 26 AVA Trio Muddy’s – Weinheim, DE
20 | 01 | 26 Bart Wirtz Quintet Leidse Jazzweek Leiden, NL
30 | 01 | 26 KUHN FU Rabbit Hole Theater – Essen, DE
31 | 01 | 26 KUHN FU Jazzmission – Schwäbisch Gmünd, DE
03 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Porgy&Bess – Vienna, AT
04 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Opus Jazz Club – Budapest, HU
05 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Petz Sörözö – Szekesfehervar, HU
06 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Teatro Miela – Trieste, IT
07 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Stockwerk – Graz, AT
27 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Jazz & Kunst im Kalk – Limburg, DE
28 | 02 | 26 KUHN FU Kinett – Kusel, DE
01 | 03 | 26 Steven Kamperman’s Prins Achmed Culture Unlimited Festival –Rotterdam, NL
20 | 03 | 26 Korhan Futacı Jazzclub Tonne – Dresden, DE
21 | 03 | 26 Korhan Futacı Burghausen Jazz Festival – Burghausen, DE
26 | 03 | 26 AVA Trio feat. Bart Maris JazzJantar Festival – Gdansk, PL
27 | 03 | 26 AVA Trio feat. Bart Maris Italian Institute – Krakow, PL
29 | 03 | 26 AVA Trio feat. Bart Maris KAAP – Oostende, BE
31 | 03 | 26 KUHN FU Theaterhaus Jazztage Festival – Stuttgart, DE
02 | 04 | 26 KUHN FU Fstop – Eskişehir, TR
03 | 04 | 26 KUHN FU Samm’s Jazz – Ankara, TR
05 | 04 | 26 KUHN FU Paribu – İstanbul, TR
08 | 04 | 26 KUHN FU 251 The Soul – Antalya, TR
09 | 04 | 26 KUHN FU 251 The Soul – Antalya, TR
12 | 04 | 26 AVA Trio feat. Eric Vloeimans Jazz in Feerwerd – Groningen, NL
21 | 04 | 26 Mark Lotz / Esat Ekincioglu / Frank Rosaly Zaal100 – Amsterdam, NL
23-26 | 04 | 26 Jazzahead Bremen as Chilli Chilli Agency
02 | 05 | 26 AVA Trio feat. Dudù Kouate Wendlandjazz – Gedelitz, DE
09 | 05 | 26 Steven Kamperman’s Prins Achmed Framed Animation Film Festival at Forum –Groningen, NL
21 | 05 | 26 Korhan Futacı Musikbunker – Aachen, DE
22 | 05 | 26 Korhan Futacı Freaques de la Musique Tor9 – Bremen, DE
24 | 05 | 26 Korhan Futacı Groningen, NL
25 | 05 | 26 Korhan Futacı Bimhuis – Amsterdam, NL
26 | 05 | 26 Korhan Futacı Moods – Zurich, CH
27 | 05 | 26 Korhan Futacı Podium Azijnfabriek – Den Bosch, NL
29 | 05 | 26 Malawa Galactica Brussel, BE
03 | 06 | 26 Hayden Chisholm/Esat Ekincioglu/Aleksandar Skoric BAM – Belgrade, RS
06 | 06 | 26 Jelte Fossen Ensemble Travertijnstraat Fest – Groningen, NL
13 | 06 | 26 Esat Ekincioglu Trio SubFreq – Amsterdam, NL
14 | 06 | 26 Esat Ekincioglu Solo TryTone Sessions at Zaal100 – Amsterdam, NL
28 | 06 | 26 Korhan Futacı Sepsi Jazz&Blues Festival – Sfantu Gheorge, RO
24 | 07 | 26 Malawa Galactica Babel Sound Festival – Balatonboglar, HU
14 | 10 | 26 Korhan Futacı Victoria Theatern – Malmö, SE
22 | 10 | 26 KUHN FU Insel – Wuppertal, NL
23 | 10 | 26 KUHN FU Vakuum – Bad Bevensen, DE
28 | 10 | 26 KUHN FU Jamboree – Barcelona, ES
05 | 12 | 26 KUHN FU Plus Etage – Baarle Nassau, NL
03 | 03 | 27 Korhan Futacı – Stockholm, SE
06 | 03 | 27 KUHN FU TBA DE
10 | 03 | 27 KUHN FU Horns Erben – Leipzig, DE
12 | 03 | 27 KUHN FU Klangfarben – Kufstein, AT