2004

Reel-to-Reel Tape Recording

Album Introduction (Updated with Production Credits)

To Whom It May Concern is the debut album that introduced Okan Ersan’s voice to the international jazz-fusion world — a work recorded entirely on analog reel-to-reel tape, giving the music its unmistakably warm, organic and timeless sound. This real-time recording approach captures the authenticity, spontaneity and dynamic energy of Ersan’s early artistic expression.

The title track, “To Whom It May Concern,” reached the finals of Guitarist of the Year (2003), showcasing Ersan’s distinctive phrasing, compositional maturity and technical fluency long before his later international collaborations.

One of the most beloved tracks on the album, “That Night in Cyprus,” has since become a signature piece in Ersan’s repertoire — an intimate, melodic reflection of Mediterranean atmosphere, nostalgia and nocturnal calm, fused with modern jazz sensibilities.

Production & Sound

The album’s sonic character is shaped by a strong team:

• Recording Engineer: Göktürk Sarvazlar — captured directly to analog reel-to-reel tape, preserving a natural, live-room feel.

• Mixing Engineer: Naim Korudağ — added clarity and dimension without compromising the warmth of the tape recording.

• Mastering: completed in England, giving the final sound a polished, international standard finish.

This fully analog workflow — from tracking to mix — places To Whom It May Concern among the rare early-2000s fusion records that retained the traditional tape-recording ethos while embracing contemporary musical vocabulary.

Why It Matters

The album documents the beginnings of an artist who would later perform at international festivals, collaborate with world-class musicians and be recognized for a distinctive fusion sound built on melody, technique and Mediterranean color.