Akbank Jazz Festival 2019 programme

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