Until 2011, while living in Toronto, Garo has been accompanied by musicians like Amir Rahbar (piano, keyboard) Agah Ecevit (ney – Turkish reed flute), Ergun Gulbay (Turkish qanun), Mahsa Ghassami (cello), Fatih Tandogan (percussion), Golrokh Aminian (vocals) and Lisbeth Helgesen (vocals). With them, he produced his first CD ‘Rumi Remembered – Inspiration’ and launched it at a concert, sharing the stage with preeminent Rumi interpreter Coleman Barks.
After moving to Ottawa in 2011, new group of musician have joined Garo on a more permanent basis. Cellist Joan Harrison, bassist Lucas Lacerda, Yves Saint-Pierre on piano and keyboard formed the core of the band. Later Kerem Eker (keys, violin, and guitar) Ahmet Gul (ney) and Murat Kucuk (percussion) joined the group. After several concerts Garo produced his second album with the participation of the Ottawa group, again dedicated it to Rumi called ‘Rumi Remembered – Come to the Orchard’. The CD was launched at a concert in November 2018.
Making unity, peace within and without and love without boundaries their ideal, Garo and Friends combine Western and Eastern -particularly Turkish- instruments in their music that produces unique, meditative, and contemplative melodies. Their repertoire consists of original compositions sung mostly in English and some in Turkish.