Akagündüz Kutbay

Aka Gündüz Kutbay (August 17, 1934, Istanbul - August 27, 1979, Istanbul), a leading Turkish ney (oblique rim-blown reed flute) player of the 1960s and 1970s, was known for his traditional sound, deep tones (dem sesleri), and interest in jazz, Tibetan, Indian, and other world musics. Kutbay was a staff musician for many years at Radio Istanbul, where he considered himself a follower of Ulvi Erguner (Director of Turkish Music) and Ulvi's father, the noted Süleyman Erguner ("Dede"). Kutbay taught ney at the prestigious Turkish Music National Conservatory in Istanbul (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi Türk Musiki Devlet Konservatuarı) from about 1973 to 1979. He served as Head Ney Player (Neyzenbaşı) at the Mevlana Festival in Konya in the...