Istanbul Jazz Festival bounces back after the long silence of the pandemic

Originally taking place in July, the festival calendar was modified this year as part of the pandemic precautions, and the concerts were held under the current safety measures. That said, it was a breath of fresh air for the music enthusiasts of the city, and showing QR codes at the entrances or wearing masks during the concerts did not impede their enthusiasm after the long break at homes watching online concerts or videos of past ones. In total, around fifty concerts, held in ten different venues, received almost thirty-four thousand audiences.

Jazz Tunes on the Bosporus

The most anticipated name of this year’s festival was the four-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo. Her concert at the Esma Sultan Mansion on the Bosporus coast, one of the most admirable of the festival’s venues, brought her rhythms under the theme of an African Odyssey to the sheer delight of the audience who were fortunate enough to find a ticket for the sold-out event. That was a night of ultimate musical pleasure not only thanks to Kidjo’s stunning performance but also all of her band members’ captivating virtuosity and energy.

Another unforgettable moment of the festival, again with the mesmerizing views of the Bosporus night in the background, this time at Feriye, was that of Itamar Borochov, the Israeli jazz trumpeter who infuses his ethereal music with the melodies of the East in an admirably unique manner. Borochov was accompanied by Rob Clearfield on piano, Cedric Raymond on double bass and Jay Sawyer on drum; all of whom received great applause from the audience at the end of the concert that passed in a dreamlike atmosphere, starting and ending with tunes from the heavenly Blue Nights.

At a night dedicated to Ennio Morricone, under the trees of the Sultan Park at the Swissotel the Bosporus, first Ferit Odman quintet was on stage with a stimulating performance. Then Stefano Di Battista, one of the leading alto saxophonists of contemporary European jazz, with Fred Nardin on piano, Daniele Sorrentino on double bass and André Ceccarelli on drums were in front of the uplifted audience. The amazing performance of Di Battista and his band of a setlist comprising Morriconne’s unforgettable songs composed for iconic films, coupled with the saxophonist’s anecdotes on Morricone, made this an utterly warm, heartfelt event at this year’s festival.

The Bridge of Creativity Between Turkey and Netherlands

28^th Istanbul Jazz hosted some great music with Dutch connections. Karsu Dönmez (pictured top), a Turkish-Dutch singer and pianist from Amsterdam, gave a wonderful concert at Istanbul’s best venue, Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre, paying tribute to legendary Ahmet Ertegün, the founder of the Atlantic Records. On that special night, with a vibrant orchestra accompanying her, she interpreted some of the most unforgettable songs recorded by Atlantic Records and originally played by Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton.

Altın Gün, an Anatolian rock band from Amsterdam, founded by the Dutch bassist Jasper Verhulst and comprising of Dutch and Turkish musicians, gave two sold-out performances to the great enthusiasm of the audience who danced the night away with the classic Anatolian rock and folk songs presented in the psychedelic and funk context of this idiosyncratic ensemble.

Another very successful Dutch-connected night at the festival was Niels Broos’s collaboration with Mabel Matiz, again at Cemil Topuzlu’s inspiring atmosphere. The acclaimed jazz and electronic keyboardist Broos, and Matiz, a highly respected figure of contemporary Turkish pop, had great synergy on stage accompanied by a vivacious orchestra. The night was also meaningful and exciting with Matiz’s messages challenging homophobic hysteria all around the world and particularly in Turkey.

The festival was supported by thirty-seven institutions in total while twenty-nine concerts met the audience free of charge. Four children's and family workshops, free of charge, were conducted by IKSV Alt Kat: Learning and Interaction Space, a unit of IKSV which works for improving access to and participation in art and culture events, particularly for those with limited opportunities for such activities.

Vitrin Showcase for Contemporary Music from Turkey once again provided a platform for successful musicians and ensembles of the country to make connections with the international actors of the industry; while Young Jazz project presented six bands with the opportunity to perform for the festival audience and receiving revenue after the long silence due to the pandemic.

With that sweet taste in our mouths after the festival, for now we can simply thank to the organisers for their great effort in making this happen under such extraordinary and difficult conditions, and hope that next year we will be there without needing to wear masks!