Özge Merç

Özge Merç is a Turkish singer currently based in Italy, where she completed her master's studies in jazz. Following her academic journey, she initiated a collaborative project with her husband, drummer and percussionist Nicola Pitassio, bringing together a group of Italian jazz musicians to reinterpret traditional Turkish repertoire. This project blends Turkish folk music with elements of jazz, fusion, and contemporary sound design. The album consists of 7 tracks, including 4 traditional public domain songs and 3 reinterpretations of well-known Turkish compositions. All arrangements are original, combining acoustic performance with modern production techniques, creating a unique cross-cultural sound that bridges Anatolian musical heritage with the European jazz-fusion scene. The band features Manuel Magrini and Daniele Del Gobbo on piano and keyboards, Ruggero Bonucci on bass, Angelo Lazzeri on guitar, Nicola Pitassio on drums and percussion, and Ruggero Fornari on sound design and production.