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Arriving in Turkey for a “short-stay-on-the-way”, he quickly made friends with musicians there and was offered a job accompanying a popular folk singer on the bass. It was then that he came in contact with the saz, the long-necked lute that is the national instrument of Turkey. It was pretty much love at first sound and he began learning the basics by watching the group’s lead saz player (an ex-guitarist who blended guitar techniques with traditional ones) and practicing on his own.
He would eventually settle in Stockholm, Sweden, where there was both a vibrant Turkish musical community and an eclectic multicultural scene as well. There he worked with Turkish drummer Okay Temiz, saz player/ singer/composer Zülfü Livaneli and ney master/multi instrumentalist Ahmet Hadji Tekbilek, all major names in Turkish music. He toured all over Europe with these artists, while leading his own group “Ruh Arkestra” in between, playing clubs, festivals and live radio concerts.
In 1980 and 1981, Nyofu recorded two self-produced albums; one of his Turkish folksong interpretations, and one of original fusion material. These albums were never released, but laid down the foundation for the concept he has since been developing. 1985-86 he was back in Los Angeles, and produced the first recording for his 3 Worlds Music catalogue; 12” single “Caravan/Dreaming”. He spent 1987-88 in Turkey, producing a couple of albums and doing A&R work for a label there. Back in Stockholm, he formed a trio with Hadji Tekbilek, and they worked extensively for a couple of years.
During his years in Sweden Nyofu also became the father of two sons; Ruhi (b. 1978) and Yosef (b. 1981) with his first wife, Annika. By the early nineties however, he felt stagnant. Temiz and Livaneli had long since returned to Turkey, the trio with Hadji had disbanded and the number of clubs and venues for live music had grown smaller. Finally, he returned to the USA in 1994, a move accompanied by a major personal upheaval; divorce. The next few years would be a period of reflection, readjustment and renewal.
2001-2004: After a hiatus from performing of several years- during which time he partnered with his 2nd wife, Swedish designer Britten Landstrom, in the clothing business, Nyofu began building a new musical network, and collaborated with Omar Faruk Tekbilek (2002 Sacred Music Festival), Crosby Tyler’s ACOUSTICO, Jamie Papisch , David Ornette Cherry and others. He produced and played on an album with visiting Hadji Tekbilek, featuring renowned Oudist John Bilezikian, nand recorded material for his own two CD’s which he released in June 2004, highlighted by a concert with Donna Sternberg Dancers performing original choreography to his compositions. Fall 2004 he attended WOMEX and from there made his first visit to Turkey since returning to the USA.
2005: Nyofu returned to Turkey again in April for the release of his CD’s there (DMS Music-Istanbul) played concerts at Jazz Café, Babylon, and Shaman World Music Club, with the band he formed there, featuring percussionist Izzet Kizil. He spent six months there and made two trips to the folk poetry heartland of Sivas for research into that subject. The fresh inspiration resulted in new compositions, poetry translations and project conceptions. His CD’s and performances were widely covered in the Turkish media with numerous TV appearances and newspaper/magazine articles. Upon returning to the US he began working with Stefani Valadez and her ensemble.
2006: Another trip to Turkey during summer and appearances as a duo with prominent Turkish folk minstrel Ashik Ali Sultan at the festivals of Pir Sultan and Ashik Veysel in Sivas and club appearances with his group in Istanbul. Began recording for new album to feature musicians from Istanbul and LA. Fall debut of his own band iST-WEST Ensemble at Fais Do Do club in Los Angeles. Continued performances with Stefani Valadez, including Skirball Cultural Center, Fais Do Do and Bangadrum. Began preparations for a concert in February 2007 with Karina Del Carmen Velasco: “Viaje Mediterraneo por Flamenco”, realizing a longtime wish to play saz in a flamenco setting.
Nyofu has 2 CD’s available on 3 Worlds Music, “Timeless Songs-Turkish Minstrels and Mystics From 13th Century to Present”; and “La Guitarra Turca”- mostly original work blending Mideast, Latin and Jazz in an instrumental/vocal mix. 3 Worlds Music is the fruition of a longtime vision shared with his brother Mark Tyson and friend, musician and multi media master Josef Blocker.
