Istanbul’s new jazz festival at Zorlu PSM

ISTANBUL

Istanbul is set to become home to a brand new jazz festival at Zorlu PSM to bring the genre at the forefront of the arts and culture scene of the city, looking at it from a broad perspective while adopting the polyphony of it. 

The festival will also feature shades of blues, electronic, ethnic, funk, indie, classic, pop and rock music. The event will feature a line-up full of jazz legends and impeccable talents such as Chick Corea, Jan Garbarek, Trilok Gurtu, Esmerine and many others. 

The Zorlu PSM Jazz Festival will also start a new tradition in the arts and culture scene of Istanbul with parties, panels, workshops, record market, open-air free events, film and documentary screenings.  

On May 3, Michel Camilo & Tomatito will be in Istanbul for a special live performance at Zorlu PSM. 

Camilo, a world-renowned pianist and composer from the Dominican Republic, won a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album and an Emmy for the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Musical Composition and Direction.

Spanish flamenco guitarist Tomatito won several Latin Grammy Awards and a César Award for the music he wrote for Tony Gatlif’s Vengo. Incorporating elements of jazz in his flamenco, Tomatito regularly collaborated with Camilo.

Gaye Su Akyol, a talented Turkish musician who has sustained her success with her second album “Hologram İmparatorluğu,” which was released in November, will also be at the #studio on the same day as a part of the festival. 

Esmerine, a Canadian modern chamber music ensemble that produces in a variety of genres such as drone music, post-punk and Turkish folk, will be at Zorlu PSM on May 4.

Founded in Montreal in 2000 by Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Bruce Cawdron (drums) and Thee Silver Mt. Zion’s Beckie Foon (cello), Esmerine’s current crew includes percussionist Jamie Thompson, multi-instrumentalist Brian Sanderson and bassist Jéremi Roy, enabling the band to refer to itself as a chamber rock quintet. They are known for their use of light box projections by artist and puppeteer Clea Minaker in their live performances to carry their minimalistic style that consists mainly of the percussion, cello and marimba forward with a visual touch.

May 4 will also feature Turkish musician and songwriter Esra Kayıkçı, who will be at #studio at the festival. 
Kayıkçı won the Made in NY Jazz Competition in the Solo Vocal category, with a jury that consisted of jazz legend Mike Stern, versatile trumpeter Randy Brecker and Grammy-winning jazz fusion drummer Lenny White.

Jan Garbarek, an esteemed saxophonist who has left his mark on jazz, new age and the world music scenes, will meet the festival audience on May 5. Garbarek will be accompanied by renowned Indian percussionist and composer Trilok Gurtu.

Brazzaville, an American band that brings genres such as indie pop, bossa nova and chamber pop will be at the #studio on May 5 as part of the festival. 

On May 6, #studio will host Pantha du Prince, a German producer, composer and conceptual artist.

“Anadolu’nun Kayıp Şarkıları” (Lost Songs of Anatolia), a documentary project aiming to promote the music of Anatolia, will be at Zorlu PSM on May 7. 

Originally a documentary produced and directed by Nezih Ünen, the concert will feature local songs from the film being played by esteemed musicians of Turkey, as well as images from the movie being projected on a giant screen. 

Oriental Wind, a project by Okay Temiz, which derives its influence from Turkish folklore and sufi music as it brings together jazz and improvisation, will be at the Drama Stage on May 8. 

On May 9, Zorlu PSM will host Gülün / Allulli / De Raymondi, a multicultural project that brings together the music of different geographies.

Turkish composer, pianist and vocalist Selen Gülün, as well as one of the most renowned saxophone players of Italy, Marcello Allulli, and Emanuele de Raymondi, who is mostly known for his works as a composer and sound designer, came together to form the project Gülün / Allulli / De Raymondi, with their debut album KAPI recorded live at Istanbul’s Bilgi University in November 2016. 

On May 10, the festival will host Stephen Micus, a German classical and world musician/composer. 

With a career that spans 40 years, Micus was heavily influenced by his study of traditional instruments and musical techniques from Japan, India, South America and other countries around the world. Constantly experimenting with instruments, Micus is able to create sound close to electronic music, yet is an acoustic purist who combines different ways of expression through his music. 

American singer and songwriter Beth Hart, a nominee of a Grammy award, who brings blues rock, jazz fusion and soul together, will also be at Zorlu PSM on the same day.  

Redd, one of Turkey’s prominent alternative rock scene bands, will take the stage at the festival on May 11. 
On May 11, there will also be a performance full of funk and jazz as Önder Focan & Şallıel Bros take the stage at the #studio with their project titled Funkbook. 

Chick Corea, a legendary American jazz and fusion pianist, keyboardist and composer, will perform the final concert of the festival on May 12.  He will also bring his accomplished musician friends Brian Blade and Eddie Gómez to Istanbul.