Emre Kayhan was born in London, U.K. He started his musical training at the age of 7 with mandolin and switched to play guitar at 9.
In 1984, Emre started to play trombone at the Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory in Istanbul, Turkey, where he studied with Ziya Polat, Aycan Teztel and Sezai Tarakci. After completed his high school degree in 1990, he moved to London, U.K. and studied at the Royal College of Music with Arthur Wilson, David Purser and Peter Bassano. Emre received a scholarship to cover his studies and expenses given specially to him by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for his achievements in his first year. He played with the RCM Big Band, conducted by Don Lusher and chamber music with David Mason and John Iveson and RCM Symphony Orchestra. In 1993, Prof. Paul Schreckenberger invited Emre as a guest student to study six months with him at the Hochschule für Musik Mannheim in Germany. In 1997, Emre received his Bachelors diploma in classical trombone from the Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory in Istanbul, Turkey. He received a Master in Music scholarship from the North Texas University and studied one term with Dr. Vern Kagarice in Fall 1999. He decided to continue his Masters in jazz studies and received full tuition scholarship from the Trinity College of Music in London, where he studied with Mark Bassey. Emre played with the Trinity Big Band, conducted by Bobby Lamb and also played and conducted the big band at the Henley Festival. He received his Post Graduate Jazz Trombone Diploma in 2001. Emre joined the European Broadcast Union Jazz Orchestra in Stockholm, 1998 and in Budapest, 2001. He played with one of the Turkish famous piano players Kerem Görsev at the Istanbul International Jazz Festival in 1996, 1997 and 1998. He also played at the various jazz clubs in that period of time with Kerem and featured two of his CDs. In 1996, he joined trombonist Steve Turre’s workshop and had a chance to play with him in Istanbul. He was the principal trombonist of the CRR Symphony Orchestra in 1996-1997. In 2002, he formed a four trombones and rhythm section group called 4-Bones and played at the 10th Istanbul International Jazz Festival. He played with the Ricky Ford Big Band and Octet. In 2005, Emre joined guitarist Neset Ruacan’s Quartet along with a special guest Claudio Roditi. He continues to play with his two trombones and rhythm section group called FunkBones. He plays standards and his original compositions with his quartet and quintet. He played duo concerts and gigs with guitarist Cem Nasuhoglu between 2003-2008 and with guitarist Neset Ruacan in 2009. Also played with CRR Big Band, Melis Sökmen Band and with one of the most famous Pop/R&B icons, Erkut Tackin Band. Emre has been a member of the TRT (Turkish Radio Television) Radio Jazz Orchestra since 1995 and the solo trombonist of the band since 2001. In 2006, he produced a jazz radio programme at the TRT Radio of Istanbul (FM 88.20) Radio 3 called “Sadece Caz” on Tuesdays at 23.00 hours. He attended the EBU Jazz Producers Meeting in Tallinn and Helsinki in April 2011. One of Emre’s compositions, ‘’Rush To Clear Hurdles’’ is featured in the movie called ‘’Impaccables’’, directed by Ramin Matin which has won several prizes including The Antalya Altın Portakal Film Festival in 2013.