The Istanbul Jazz Festival, which has taken place in the first half of July since 1994, features jazz, pop, rock and world music performances in different venues in Istanbul. Each year, the festival attracts around 50,000 people to more than 30 concerts held at various historical venues of Turkey's largest and most well known city.
Through special series such as the “European Jazz Club” and “Encounters with Masters”, the festival brings together well known musicians from around the world. Likewise, the “Young Jazz” concert series, launched in 2003, gives amateur jazz musicians a new platform and the chance to perform at an international jazz festival.
This year's 21st edition of the festival highlights three concerts by masters of contemporary Polish jazz, inviting audiences worldwide to an unforgettable experience.
MOŻDŻER DANIELSSON FRESCO TRIO / TOMASZ STAŃKO QUARTET
Thursday 3 July, 21:00, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall
On Thursday 3 July at 21:00, Istanbul's Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall will host a concert by Polish-Swedish-Israeli collaboration Możdżer Danielsson Fresco Trio, followed by a performance from the Polish trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stańko.
Considered the greatest revelation of the Polish jazz scene of the last decade, Leszek Możdżer joins Swedish double bass player Lars Danielsson and Israeli percussion master Zohar Fresco to create Możdżer Danielsson Fresco Trio. Together, they successfully combine different styles and moods in their dynamic music and received critical acclaim for their platinum albums.
Możdżer's top achievement in the field of composition is music written for the world's first trans-opera after William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, staged by Wojciech Kościelniak at the Musical Theatre in Gdynia and premiered in October 2001. Możdżer has performed all over Europe, the USA, Canada and South America.
Following the Możdżer Danielsson Fresco Trio’s performance, Polish trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stańko as part of the Tomasz Stanko Quartet will take the stage. Considered as the first European free jazz trumpeter, Stańko stands among Europe's most original jazz musicians. His musical strengths include his distinctive tone - the mood of his music blends with a certain Slavic melancholy which has developed into his characteristic sound. Stańko has released 37 albums, composed scores for numerous films and theatrical productions and is known as one of the most creative and original players in the world.
EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB: STRYJO FEAT. FAKİH KADEMOĞLU
Thursday 03 July, 21:30, Salon İKSV
On the same day as Możdżer and Stańko, Istanbul Jazz Festival will host the Polish trio Stryjo, performing with Fakih Kademoğlu on Thursday 3 July at 21:30 at the Salon IKSV.
Featuring Nikola Kołodziejczyk on the piano, Maciej Szczyciński on the bass and Michał Bryndal on the drums, Polish trio Stryjo brings together European jazz, referring to the roots of classical music, and drawing on inspiration from Polish folk music, flamenco, disco, punk, IDM and world music. Breaking the scheme of a jazz trio while performing modern European jazz, Stryjo is joined by Fakih Kademoğlu on ney, shakuhachi, saxophone, and saron. Kademoğlu, who is also a member of the Yakaza Ensemble, recently performed at Pera Museum's Young Wednesday concert series and incorporates traditional instruments into electroacoustic music in a refreshingly new way.
JAZZ IN THE PARKS: JON BATISTE&STAY HUMAN, MITCH&MITCH, YOUNG JAZZ CONCERTS
Saturday 05 July, 18:00, Nişantaşı Sanat Parkı
The magic of jazz takes hold of the city with the concert series Jazz in the Parks, organized as part of the Istanbul Jazz Festival this year. The first guests of this free concert series include American John Batiste with his trio, Stay Human, the 9-piece Polish band Mitch&Mitch With Their Incredible Combo, as well as the finalists of the Young Jazz Competition (Baturay Yarkın Trio / Cazzip Project / Mikado / Nom Trio / Tümer Uluçınar Quartet). The concert starts on 5 July at 18:00, and is open for the public for free at the Nişantaşı Sanat Parkı (Nişantaşi Art Park).
Mitch & Mitch - or, as the Polish band also refers to themselves, Mitch & Mitch With Their Incredible Combo - easily blend country & western with Japanese ballads, mambo and psychedelic disco. The musicians cloak their personalities under pseudonyms based on the name ‘Mitch’. The band is famous for blending adorable pleasure from playing with erudition and spectacular technique.
Programme:
MOŻDŻER DANIELSSON FRESCO TRIO / TOMASZ STAŃKO QUARTET
03 July Thursday, 21:00, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall
EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB: STRYJO FEAT. FAKİH KADEMOĞLU
03 July Thursday, 21:30, Salon İKSV
JAZZ IN THE PARKS: JON BATISTE&STAY HUMAN, MITCH&MITCH, YOUNG JAZZ CONCERTS
05 July Saturday, 18:00, Nişantaşı Art Park
The event is organized as part of the cultural programme celebrating the 600th anniversary of Polish and Turkish diplomatic relations in the year 2014.
Sources: IKSV event website, own materials. Edited by Elçin M. 11/06/2014