Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol

In this episode, I chat with Professor Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol. Professor Sanlıkol is a musical polymath whose work blends concert music, jazz composition, and Turkish music. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Dave Liebman, Esperanza Spalding, and Miguel Zenón, and his music has been praised for its fusion of concert music, jazz, and Turkish folkloric elements. Professor Sanlıkol’s compositions often feature Turkish instruments alongside jazz orchestras and classical ensembles, creating a unique sound that reflects his cultural heritage. He is also the creator of the SANLIKOL Renaissance 17, a digital microtonal keyboard with 17 keys per octave. Additionally, his "coffeehouse opera," Othello in the Seraglio, merges Baroque and Ottoman musical traditions, exploring themes of race and history. Professor Sanlıkol is president of the DÜNYA collective and currently serves as director of New England Conservatory’s Intercultural Institute.