ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO
OCTOBER 18TH/FRIDAY/20:30
CEMAL REŞİT REY KONSER SALONU
ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO (EN)
Avant-garde jazz band Art Ensemble of Chicago builds a unique musical
universe by integrating musical styles that span the history of jazz
with the use of unique sounds and little instruments, traditional hand
and stick drums, horns, bells, chimes, vibes, marimba, gongs of all
sizes and an array of homemade and found sound objects. These objects
serve each individual musician as an extension of their personality on
their principal instruments of saxophones, flutes, trumpet and
flugelhorn, double bass and drum set. Evolving from founder Roscoe
Mitchell's musical vision, explorations and adventurous collaborations
in Chicago of the early and mid-sixties, the amazing longevity of this
musical entity owes to the shared willingness to support each member's
individual musical interests and personal goals. Having released more
than 70 live performances, studio recordings, videos and DVDs on a
variety of labels including legendary ECM Records, Art Ensemble of
Chicago will take the stage for an unforgettable evening. Both founded
in 1969, ECM and Art Ensemble of Chicago are celebrating their 50th
anniversary this year. Join us for this double celebration of two
musical life-spans full of inspiring stories!
Roscoe Mitchell: Saxophone, Flute
Don Moye: Drums, Congas, Percussion
With guest:
Hugh Ragin: Trumpet, Piccolo trumpet and Flugelhorn
Tomeka Reid: Cello
Brett Carson: Piano
Silvia Bolognesi: Double bass
Junius Paul: Double bass, Objects
Dudu Kouaté: African percussion
CHARLES LLOYD SKY TRIO, FEATURING GERALD CLAYTON & MARVIN SEWELL
OCTOBER 23RD/WEDNESDAY/20:30
CEMAL REŞİT REY KONSER SALONU
CHARLES LLOYD SKY TRIO, FEATURING GERALD CLAYTON & MARVIN SEWELL (EN)
Legendary jazz musician, saxophone and flute virtuoso, composer Charles
Lloyd's unique talent, as Carlos Santana put it, made him an
international treasure. Lloyd, after making his first appearance in the
1960s with avant-garde improvisations, entered a state of
semi-retirement in the 1970s, although he was living the most brilliant
years of his career. During his isolated time in California, Big Sur he
occasionally showed up only in The Beach Boys' albums and tour concerts
as a touring band member. Released in 1989, “Fish Out of Water”, his
first album under the roof of ECM, ended his retreat years and opened a
whole new chapter in his career. With the depth of his musical
expression reflecting a lifetime of experience, he never left the stage
again. Following up his many iconic albums, last year he released his
latest album “Vanished Gardens”. And today at the age of 81, he is at
the peak of his musical journey. Let the countdown begin to see this
legend, accompanied by Gerald Clayton and Marvin Sewell at the Akbank
Jazz Festival!
Charles Lloyd: Saxophone
Gerald Clayton: Piano
Marvin Sewell: Guitar
JAMES CARTER’S ORGAN TRIO
OCTOBER 21ST/MONDAY/20:30
ZORLU PSM TURKCELL PLATINUM SAHNESİ
JAMES CARTER’S ORGAN TRIO (EN)
Virtuoso saxophonist James Carter, one of jazz’s most sophisticated
improvisers, and his longest-running, most cohesive band James Carter
Organ Trio bring a different kind of excitement to Akbank Jazz Festival
this year. Like the legendary saxophonist Ben Webster, bandleader James
Carter is known for his passionate and high-velocity solos but is just
as likely to create sentimental tones. He applied his saxophone
virtuosity to Puerto Rican composer Roberto Sierra’s Concerto for
Saxophones and Orchestra on the album “Caribbean Rhapsody” in 2011. And
within the same year, releasing James Carter’s Organ Trio’s latest album
“At the Crossroads”, Carter got back to his musical roots. Featuring
the gifted keyboard work of Detroit’s rising star Gerard Gibbs and the
powerful drums of Alex White, James Carter Organ Trio is now in its
seventeenth year. Bound by strong creative ties, this laudable trio
mesmerizes the audience with each live performance, thanks to their
command of extended techniques.
James Carter: Saxophone
Gerard Gibbs: Keyboard
Alex White: Drums
KOKOROKO
OCTOBER 26TH/SATURDAY/21:30
BABYLON
KOKOROKO (EN)
In Kokoroko’s music Afrobeat love translates into a striking,
horn-fueled sound with West African roots and Inner London hues. The
8-Piece all-star band led by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey has always a
strong presence on stage, with the harmonic combination of trumpet, alto
saxophone, trombone, guitar, keyboards, bass, and percussion. Following
in the footsteps of West Africa’s legends Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, and
Tony Allen, Kokoroko knows well how to create unique and captivating
melodies. Their hit song “Abusey Junction” was featured in the “We Out
Here” album, a project from Brownswood Recordings celebrating London’s
young jazz scene, along with Maisha, Ezra Collective, Moses Boyd, Theon
Cross, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Triforce, and Joe Armon-Jones.
The song was also selected as “Track of the Year” at the 2019 Worldwide
Awards. Their self-titled debut album released in March has already
become one of the favorite albums of the year. Having played at iconic
values so far, this time Kokoroko will hit the Akbank Jazz Festival
stage, bringing the audience another unforgettable performance!
Sheila Maurice-Grey: Trumpet
Cassie Kinoshi: Alto Saxophone
Richie Seivwright: Trombone
Oscar Jerome: Guitar
Yohan Kebede: Keyboards
Matale Chashi: Bass
Onome Ighmare: Percussion
Ayo Salawu: Drums
BUGGE WESSELTOFT & ERKAN OĞUR & FRIENDS
OCTOBER 24TH/THURSDAY/21:00
MODA SAHNESİ
BUGGE WESSELTOFT & ERKAN OĞUR & FRIENDS (EN)
Norwegian jazz virtuoso Bugge Wesseltoft believes artists should always
pursue their own unique way of personal expression. Always a true
explorer of music, he made significant contributions to the emergence
and shaping of the North Jazz genre, which is considered as a
distinctive style in modern jazz today. Since the early 1990s, he has
always been able to create a unique sound during his career, which in
the meantime has gone through a post-modern transition. With his iconic
project New Conception of Jazz, which he devoted to new discoveries, and
his record label Jazzland Recordings, he is one of the musicians who
keep the pulse of jazz today. At the same time, Wesseltoft is one of the
names that gave life to Rymden, and he also performs as a trio with
Henrik Schwarz & Dan Berglund. His Bugge & Friends projects with
his friends including Erik Truffaz and İlhan Erşahin are among his most
inspiring works of Wesseltoft. During a visit to Istanbul in 2018, he
met Erkan Oğur and took a step to sign a brand new Bugge & Friends
project with this artist whose work he found admirable. They are now
preparing to give the first concert of this surprise project on the
stage of the Akbank Jazz Festival. Accompanied by Alp Ersönmez at the
bass and Volkan Öktem on the drums, get ready to witness a brand new
musical language through this brand new collective.
Bugge Wesseltoft: Piano, Keys
Erkan Oğur: Guitar
Alp Ersönmez: Bass
Volkan Öktem: Drums
JAKOB BRO TRIO FEAT. JOEY BARON & THOMAS MORGAN
OCTOBER 22ND / TUESDAY / 20:30
ZORLU PSM DRAMA SAHNESİ
JAKOB BRO TRIO FEAT. JOEY BARON & THOMAS MORGAN (EN)
Multi-awarded Danish musician, a prominent ECM artist Jakob Bro and his
band Bro Trio are always in search for a contemplative aura while making
music. Thanks to this shared desire, guitarist Jakob Bro, bassist
Thomas Morgan, and drummer Joey Baron let the music breathe and create
its own unique path. Their exploratory music is nourished by
improvisation and the essence of their songs always derive from emotions
with great depth. Following up their ECM studio album of 2016,
“Streams” -which was lauded by The New York Times as “ravishing”- Jakob
Bro Trio released “Bay of Rainbows” last year, an album recorded live in
New York City’s prestigious jazz club Jazz Standard. This powerful trio
are coming to Istanbul this autumn to meet the Akbank Jazz Festival
audience. Do not miss this unique opportunity to witness Jakob Bro
Trio’s inspiring performance, that will showcase the strengths of the
band’s unique spirit.
Jakob Bro: Guitar
Thomas Morgan: Double-bass
Joey Baron: Drums
LOUIS SCLAVIS QUARTET 'CHARACTERS ON A WALL'
OCTOBER 24TH / THURSDAY / 21:30
BABYLON
LOUIS SCLAVIS QUARTET 'CHARACTERS ON A WALL' (EN)
One of ECM’s legendary artists, clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and
improviser Louis Sclavis, is coming to Akbank Jazz Festival with his
powerful ensemble Louis Sclavis Quartet to celebrate the inspiring
label’s 50th anniversary in Istanbul. With the inspiration coming from
Soft Machine, Sun Ra, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Louis Sclavis
began his professional career in 1975. At beginning of the ‘80s, he
played with various ensembles and musicians such as Henri Texier's
quartet, the Compagnie Lubat, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath,
Michel Portal, Tony Oxley, Evan Parker, Peter Brötzmann, Enrico Rava and
Tomasz Stańko. In 1984 he started forming his own ensembles and since
then he continues making band music. He has won numerous awards such as
the Django Reinhardt prize, the Grand National Prize of music, and the
SACEM Grand Prize. Louis Sclavis Quartet, who will take the stage at the
festival, will perform pieces from their latest project “Characters on a
Wall”. The main inspiration behind this album, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, is
known as the ambassador of urban art in France, and he is also a long
time collaborator of Louis Sclavis. Sclavis composed eight tunes based
on eight of his collages such as Pasolini in Roma and Mahmoud Darwish in
Palestine. For Sclavis, like a photo in developing bath, the music
suddenly appears on Ernest’s works. Join us for a night of celebration
full of striking music and artistic inspiration.
Louis Sclavis: Clarinets
Sarah Murcia: Double Bass
Benjamin Moussay: Piano
Christophe Lavergne: Drums
MATS ELLERTSEN
OCTOBER 19TH / SATURDAY/ 19:00
AKBANK SANAT
Celebrating international jazz scene’s visionary label ECM’s 50th
anniversary this year, Akbank Jazz Festival brings together the most
influential artists of the label and the festival audience with a series
of concerts. As part of this celebration, one of ECM’s biggest stars,
Norwegian double bass maestro and composer Mats Eilertsen will be at the
festival stage, accompanied by his prestigious band with a decade-long
career. Having released their critically-acclaimed latest album “And
Then Comes The Night” this year, the avant-garde virtuoso trio proves to
be one of the most prominent and exploratory jazz ensembles of today.
Piano: Harmen Fraanje
Doublebass: Mats Eilertsen
Drums: Thomas Strønen