Daily Inspiration: Meet Bulut Gulen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bulut Gulen.

Hi Bulut, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My mom took me to the children’s choir when I was nine. Then three years later, I got accepted to Ankara State Conservatory as a classical trombone performance student and got ten years of full-time education there. After that period, I moved to Istanbul in order to be a part of the jazz scene. Played, taught, and recorded in many different music genres in Istanbul. But I was always aware and willing to be at the US to be with great Jazz musicians in there. So finally moved to the US! I really got a great scholarship from Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, I attended two different competitions and won those. After four years at Berklee, started to educate in the jazz departments of Ankara State Conservatory and Istanbul Bahcesehir Conservatory. Focused on teaching ensemble, trombone performance, jazz theory and harmony. By the way, I recorded my debut album, “Su” at 2015. I turned back to my Boston story as I got accepted to New England Conservatory Contemporary Improvisation department with an assistant teaching scholarship. During this time, I was placed in all of the professional Big Bands in Boston and also started to play with my own quintet. I released my second album, “Bosphorus Train” with “Dogulu Music” label at 2022. Now I continue my career in Istanbul as a player and educator.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course not. First, in my hometown, there wasn’t any Conservatory, so I left my family in my very young age. I started boarding school at my 12. Additionally, as a Turkish musician, moving to the US was not easy in terms of a new culture, economic factors and mentally those days. During my US study times, parallelly worked at brass department of Berklee all time to continue my social life and education. Of course, I struggled but handled in a very short time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I can express myself as a trombone player, educator and also a composer and arranger. Played with so many great musicians and jazz legends (McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Kurt Elling, Diane Reeves, Jack DeJohnette) in Boston, NY, Miami, Nevada, and Montreal. Mostly proud with the places (Birdland, Lincoln Center, Jazz Gallery, Ryles Jazz Club, Wallys, etc.) and people I played with.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I believe that the most important thing is to be prepared once good luck knocks on your door. I tried hard and studied a lot so I was prepared for the good luck in my whole music life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bulutgulen.wixsite.com/bulutgulen
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/bulutgulen?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bulutgulen?t=LWA4F6jRe7lPD9U_grMhEQ&s=09
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bulutgulen6593