Faster than a stealth bomber, the Orhan Demir Project is like nothing you've heard. Notes are launched in rapid succession as if destine to some far away universe. Demir is the most original guitarist on the planet. Imagine John McLaughlin, James "Blood" Ulmer and Captain Beefheart living in the body of a Middle East guitar legend who has made Canada his home for the past several years. The closet tune to planet earth is "Blues For Bosphorus which begins with Demir bending pitches like B.B. King in long sweet lines, then, suddenly somebody pulls the pin and a barrage of lethal notes explode around you. Not for the faint of heart..
by The Jazz Report Staff

Canadian guitarist Orhan Demir possesses a blistering technique, an envelope - pushing musicality and a romantic heart - on - sleeve soul. On "Hot Cargo" these qualities plus the guitarist's engaging compositional skills are front and centre. Supported by the Orhan Demir Project - bassist Thomas Orejnicki, drummer Perry Pansieri and on half the tracks tenor saxophonist Francois Briere - Demir lets loose on the open - ended "When You Aren't" and "Hot Cargo." There are also effective pace changes such as "Reflections" with saxophonist Briere. However, there are a few loose ends in the ensembles. Also, there are moments when the rhythms, for all their energy, never quite lock in. And occasionally, as in "Driving Mr. Crazy," Demir gets a bit tangled in his up - tempo, time - lapse Phillip Glassistic arpeggios. Still, Demir is a singular voice worth keeping tabs on..
by Chuck Berg

Turkish - Canadian guitarist Demir's machine - gun runs are as impressively McLaughlin - esque as ever on his latest offering, but I hear a healthy balance of lyricism in his playing. Also in his compositions - besides some open - ended blowing vehicles and so - so  jazz - rock numbers - are some attractive melodies, richly decorated by Demir and Francois Briere's burnished tenor sax work. Bassist Thomas Orejnicki and drummer Perry Pansieri are a solid team who, happily, don't stay stuck in any rhythmic groove. Demir's playing remains. commanding, and the content of his solos (including his use of space) has grown so that the ideas seem more worthy of his prodigious technique. Truly a guitarist to reckon with.
by Bart Grooms

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