Kaval / Bilûr

Extreme close-up of weathered hands holding a wooden Kaval flute in playing position, fingers resting over tone holes, natural window light from the left casting gentle shadow across the grain of the instrument, warm ochre tones, shallow depth
Extreme close-up of weathered hands holding a wooden Kaval flute in playing position, fingers resting over tone holes, natural window light from the left casting gentle shadow across the grain of the instrument, warm ochre tones, shallow depth

— BIO

My journey with Kaval-

Metin Yilmaz is a exponent of the Kaval, the ancient, breath-born flute whose haunting tones have echoed through Kurdish/Anatolian mountains and memories for centuries.

A devoted disciple of Ustad Sinan Çelik and Osman Aktaş—pioneering maestros and producers of Turkey’s traditional soundscape—Metin carries a lineage of deep-rooted musical wisdom in every note he breathes into life. The pedagogical chain is specific and unbroken. It determines not only technique but musical thinking — how a phrase breathes, where silence earns weight, what the instrument is actually asking.

Born of Kurdish heritage in Turkey, Metin's journey has spanned continents. From the highlands of Anatolia to the concert halls of Europe and Australia, his artistry has resonated across cultures and generations. His presence on both stage and studio has earned him recognition as influential interpreter of the Kaval’s timeless spirit.

Metin was based in Cologne, Germany for many years — a crossroads of culture — where he brought the ancient sound of the Kaval into dialogue with global traditions. He performed in various settings including German television, the Cologne Jazz Festival, and theatre stages across Europe, blending the earthy soul of his roots with the language of contemporary music.

Kurdish heritage

The instrument's voice has a geography

The Bilur/Kaval's tonal character was formed in Kurdish Anatolia long before any collaboration began. Metin's practice is rooted in that specific cultural ground — not as heritage preserved behind glass, but as a living musical logic.

Hear the Quartet
A decade of performance

Turkey, Europe, Australia — then the Quartet

Ten years performing and collaborating across Europe and beyond produced something specific: a practice that knows how jazz and flamenco musicians listen, and what the Kaval can offer when they do.

That practice now finds its most considered form in the Quartet — not cross-genre positioning, but a conversation among musicians who have each mastered their own lineage.