Atilla Engin

Atilla Engin
Background information
Birth name	Atilla
Born	1946
Origin	Kayseri, Turkey
Genres	Jazz Jazz fusion Jazz rock World music
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger, percussionist, conductor, performer, educator
Instruments	Drums percussion instrument
Years active	Since 1966
Associated acts	The Istanbul Orchestra, Turquoise, Atilla Engin Group, Matao, New World Orchestra
Website	Official Home Page

Atilla Engin (b. 1946 Kayseri Turkey) is a Turkish American fusion jazz musician. From 1974 to 2001 he was active in Denmark as a musician and educator; he organized music festivals and represented Denmark as a musical ambassador. In 2001, he left Denmark for the United States, where he formed an orchestra.

Engin first played and recorded in Istanbul, moving to Copenhagen in 1974, and playing with several groups. He released his first album Turkish Delight with the band Matao. They performed at Roskilde Festival in 1979. His other group, "Atilla Engin Group", released five albums. While he was recording and touring with his band, he also taught at the Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory, for four years. Engin formed a band with 12 Copenhagen Jazz Conservatory students and they toured Turkey. This project ended with a joint concert with The Istanbul Radio Big Orchestra at The Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul.

In 1985 Engin was awarded the title Composer of The Year in Denmark. In the same year, the Atilla Engin Group was appointed as Denmark's cultural ambassador to represent the country in conjunction with the European Music Year 1985.

Engin established the World to World Drums And Percussion Festival in Copenhagen. Engin formed this festival in Copenhagen, with events taking place in Aarhus and Malmö, Sweden. The festival included performances by Zakir Hussain, Airto Moreira, Nana Vasconcelos, Peter Giger, Danny Gottlieb, and others. He participated in an international festival in India, Tal Vadhya Utsav, in India.

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