Zenith Trio
Zenith first took shape as a quartet, and now the journey continues with the refined energy of a trio. With Barış Arslan on guitar, Adem Gülşen on piano and keys, and Efe Oğur on drums, Zenith Trio brings a lively and dynamic sound to the stage. In this setup, the guitar and piano take turns carrying the bass lines, giving the music a more open character. The wide sound of the quartet has become the strong unity of three voices. In this form, the tradition of jazz is played with new energy and a contemporary perspective.</br
Barış Arslan, born in Istanbul, began playing classical guitar at the age of eleven. After building a foundation in the classical repertoire, he pursued studies in music theory while simultaneously enrolling in law school. During this time, he developed a passion for jazz, performing with various groups across clubs and festivals.
At twenty-five, he met American guitarist Dave Allen, with whom he studied intensively for four years. Under Allen’s mentorship, he focused on rhythmic concepts and improvisational approaches, which became central to his musical voice.
Around that time, Arslan formed a trio with bassist Apostolos Sideris and drummer Efe Oğur. The group explored jazz standards through a modern lens while also presenting Arslan’s original compositions.
In 2024, he released his debut album Zenith, featuring his own works and highlighting his approach to storytelling through improvisation—a balance of tradition and contemporary expression within jazz. That same year, Zenith was presented to audiences at the 34th Akbank Jazz Festival. Today, rather than performing in a quartet format, he brings the album to life as the Zenith Trio, alongside pianist Adem Gülşen and drummer Efe Oğur, offering a more dynamic and distinct perspective.
Efe Oğur began taking drum lessons from Selami Sevinç at the age of 11. He was introduced to jazz thanks to Selami Sevinç. After several years, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Marmara University. He started his musical collaboration with Barış Arslan in 2016. He co-founded a jazz trio with Apostolos Sideris and Barış Arslan in 2018, and took part in the recording of the album Zenith released in 2024, the songs of which composed by Barış Arslan. In 2025, he co-founded Zenith Trio with Adem Gülşen and Barış Arslan, and he is currently performing with them at various jazz venues, events, and festivals.
Adem Gülşen began his musical journey with classical piano, later continuing with modern music and jazz, showcasing his talent with influences of contemporary jazz, and electronic music in his sound. A significant turning point and source of inspiration in his musical approach was Aydın Esen, from whom he received training in modern harmony and improvisation. Inspired by Esen, improvisation and modern touches have become essential elements of his music. With over fifteen years of experience, he has contributed to numerous projects and albums, and he continues to do so as a composer and arranger.
