Jazz vocalist and pianist Ece Göksu was born in Ankara, Turkey. Growing up in a family of musicians encouraged her to start taking private piano lessons when she was 5 years old. Göksu’s first professional step in her musical career was joining the Ankara State Opera and Ballet’s Children Choir. After finishing elementary school in New York City, she returned to Turkey and entered Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory’s piano department in 1994 where she had many recitals and chamber music concerts. In 2005, she graduated from the piano department of Mimar Sinan University Istanbul State Conservatory. Prior to moving to Istanbul she had developed an interest in jazz and began singing in jazz clubs. Since 2002, Göksu had been a part of theInternational Istanbul Jazz Festival, International Akbank Jazz Festival and International Ankara Jazz Festivals. In 2007, Göksu was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and studied jazz vocal performance with Nancy Marano in William Paterson University in New Jersey, where she earned her Master of Music degree. During her education in WPU she gave recitals and participated in big band concerts. Here, she also had the chance to study with Mulgrew Miller, Richard DeRosa and Cecil Bridgewater. She took private jazz vocal lessons from Roberta Gambarini and Jay Clayton and participated in Kurt Elling’s masterclasses in NYC. Göksu performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 2012. She was accompanied by harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret at the 20th International Istanbul Jazz Festival in 2013. She gave concerts with the Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya and Eskişehir Symphony Orchestras as a soloist between 2013-2015. Ece Göksu lives both in New York and Istanbul.
Pianist, composer Can Çankaya is one of the most in-demand jazz musicians in Turkey. After graduating from Istanbul University State Conservatory, he was awarded a full scholar/assistantship from William Paterson University in New Jersey where he earned his Master of Music degree. Here, he studied piano and ensemble with world-renown pianists Harold Mabern, Mulgrew Miller and James Weidman. Throughout his career, Çankaya performed with Emin Fındıkoğlu (Detant), Ali Perrett (Acid Trippin’), Ricky Ford (Istanbul Collective Big Band), TRT Big Band, Maffy Falay, İmer Demirer, Erkan Oğur, Grammy awarded harmonica player Gregoire Maret and Ece Göksu at the most prestigious international jazz festivals. He has recorded albums both as a producer and a pianist. His last recording as a co-leader “Timeless” is recorded with bassist Kağan Yıldız and the album contains originals as well as jazz standards.