Istanbul Jazz Festival 2009
July 5th UPDATE
Nice article today in the New York Times
And remember—Many more Jazz events take place outside the official schedule and at many other venues.
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We’re putting together a free-wheeling package to coincide with this summer’s 16th Istanbul Jazz Festival: July 2-16, 2009.
Tom Carabasi,World Music & Brazilian Jazz percussionist, heads the Dept of Photography at the Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida. Tom’s multi-cultural experience in education and his dual careers as a musician and photographer will come into play as he leads our exploration of the sounds and sights of Istanbul, the center of East-West fusion. During each day, members of our small group will be able to tap Tom for advice on photography and enjoy his insights on the arts scene in this exciting metropolis. Visits to modern galleries, new museums, and a stop at a traditional cymbal-making workshop are just a few of the unusual treats in store.
And by night, you can take your pick of events in a city alive with music—in concert halls & historic ruins, inside tiny clubs, on the streets, and even afloat on ferry-boats. Follow Tom as he sits in with local musicians, or strike out on your own.
Space on this small tour is limited, so bookmark this page and check back as we add more details. For a glimpse of what awaits you, please read on…
Celebrate Jazz in Turkey!
16th İstanbul International Jazz Festival
Unique venues— Byzantine basilicas, Ottoman palaces, museums, open-air theaters—will host scheduled events. More informally, the back streets, neighborhood squares, tavernas & even the waterways of Istanbul will resonate with music—Jazz, Blues, Big Band, of course… but and also Pop, Reggae, Rock, & New Age. This jubilant festival takes place in the very heart of the city! You can see a map of the concert venues here.
The 2009 program won’t be published until spring, but the English/Turkish Website provides extensive details about the Festival, favorite performers, and the historic settings of many concerts. For ticketed events, you can even book your seats online.
One of the best-organized festivals of Europe, the International İstanbul Jazz Festival has brought many renowned artists to İstanbul’s music lovers. Last season’s line-up included: Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Caetano Veloso, Tower of Power with Marcus Miller, Al Jarreau, Lenny Kravitz, Zakir Hussain, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many of Turkey’s internationally acclaimed performers, including Sibel Kose and the Istanbul Saxophone Quartet.
See the past season’s complete line-up at the Istanbul Jazz Festival Web site and don’t forget that in addition the concerts noted, many more informal musical events will be happening around the city.
We’ve taken advantage of this electric energy to plan a one-of-a-kind trip for a small group of first-time visitors to Turkey. If you’d prefer to travel solo, already have your own group and ideas, or if you’ve sampled Turkey’s offerings before and want to see new aspects of this fascinating country, please let us know. We’d be happy to craft a custom tour to your specifications.
But for the tour we propose, our small group will lodge in wonderful boutique hotels in the historic district of Istanbul, within walking distance of Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, and the Covered Bazaar.
By day, we’ll explore an endlessly fascinating city astride both Europe and Asia: To see where the world’s finest concert cymbals are still handcrafted, we’ll visit a brass workshop. A Bosphorus cruise with live Jazz and a Whirling Dervish ceremony with traditional musicians are also options. No matter how each day unfolds, by night we’ll be able to partake of the Jazz Festival. The 2009 line-up should be the Festival’s Web site sometime in mid-April.
To sample Turkish delights beyond Istanbul, we’re suggesting a side-trip along Turkey’s Aegean Coast. The fabulous ruins of ancient Ephesus and the world-renowned Museum of Underwater Archeology in Bodrum (Halicarnassus) are just some of the highlights of Turkey and we can help you customize your trip to include them.
Because our Jazz Festival group will be small, we’ll be able to book special hotels and restaurants not suitable for larger groups. We pride ourselves on the individual attention we give to each tour member, so please note: Space for this tour is limited.
Remember, if you’d like something different—just ask. Each year, the Festival actually runs a full two weeks in the first half of July. Perhaps you want to be in Istanbul for the entire Festival? Or maybe you want less music and would prefer to visit more archaeological sites? Whatever you’d like, know that we are experts when it comes to custom arrangements for individuals and special-interest groups
Click here to see details for the type of tour we propose for 2009.
For questions, please call Holly Chase at 941.330.8738 or email Holly
