Töz Trio unites three of the most acclaimed and forward-thinking jazz musicians in Turkey: Tamer Temel (tenor and soprano saxophones), Ercüment Orkut (piano), and Cem Aksel (drums). Their music explores the creative dynamic between innovative written compositions and articulated improvisations —blending structure and spontaneity into a musical language that is quietly distinctive and deeply expressive.

Their debut album, Töz, released by A.K. Müzik in 2018, was recorded in a single uninterrupted take, reflecting the immediacy and intensity of their live performances. Composed by Tamer Temel, the album features intricately crafted pieces woven together with improvisational interludes—sometimes individual, sometimes collective—offering an adventurous and immersive listening experience. The recording was mixed and mastered by Jordi Vidal (Brad Mehldau, Avishai Cohen).

Their second album, Töz II, marks a bold expansion of this vision through a collaboration with the internationally recognized Hezarfen Ensemble—a contemporary music collective known for its interdisciplinary and intercultural projects. Expanding the trio into a nine-piece ensemble, Töz II merges the trio’s dynamic interplay with Hezarfen’s orchestral range, drawing equally from jazz, classical composition, and free improvisation to create a vibrant, genre-defying sound.

With influences ranging from György Ligeti to Vijay Iyer, Tyshawn Sorey to David Virelles, Töz Trio explores new landscapes and possibilities—where compositional invention meets the fragile and fertile immediacy of improvisation. Embracing an adventurous performance approach and artistic vision, the trio leads listeners through a journey that is abstract, exploratory, nuanced, and emotionally resonant. From Istanbul, Töz Trio carves out a unique sonic sphere that contributes to the landscape of contemporary creative music.