Yavuz Akyazıcı is an acclaimed jazz guitarist, composer, and educator who has spent his career bridging the rich traditions of American jazz with his Turkish cultural roots.
Initially pursuing Chemical Engineering at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Akyazıcı eventually followed his passion for music to the United States. He graduated from The New School Jazz Program in New York City in 1996 with a degree in Jazz Performance. Over the next 17 years, he embedded himself in the highly competitive NYC jazz scene, performing at legendary venues such as Birdland, 55 Bar, Smalls, and Auggie’s. During his time in New York, a pivotal conversation with saxophonist and mentor Billy Harper inspired him to begin incorporating elements of his heritage into his modern jazz compositions.
In 2005, Akyazıcı recorded his debut album, Volcano, at the Asia Minor Carpets design loft in NYC, featuring jazz heavyweights Eric Person, Joe Fonda, and Matt Wilson. Upon returning to Turkey in 2011, he launched the Turkish Standards Project. This innovative series reimagines classic Turkish pop and folk songs through the lens of bebop and modern jazz harmony. The project resulted in three acclaimed volumes (2011, 2014, 2018) and drew international attention, including a dedicated feature on NPR.
His expansive discography also includes Bridge (2012), Short Stories (2013)—an album entirely composed of his original works—and the self-produced Yavuz Akyazıcı Trio Live at Pannonica (2015). Akyazıcı has shared the stage with notable artists like Patricia Barber, performing together at Babylon and the İKSV Salon, which led to a European tour invitation. Beyond his jazz albums, he has also composed scores for Turkish feature films such as Romantik and Bırakmak İstiyorum.
Today, based in İzmir, Akyazıcı leads the Yavuz Akyazıcı Trio, performing regularly at premier venues like Nardis Jazz Club in Istanbul. His trio sets focus on original studio compositions—including recent releases like Kapadokya and Road To Osaka—alongside classic jazz standards.
A deeply systematic and dedicated educator, Akyazıcı authored the pedagogy book Caz Doğaçlama Sanatı (The Art of Jazz Improvisation) and operates a comprehensive online 1-on-1 jazz mentorship program. Bridging his technical background with his musical expertise, he is also the creator and developer of J.A.M. (Jazz A Minute), a mobile application that brings his structured approach to jazz harmony and improvisation to students worldwide.