In almost every speech, Gaye strongly asserts she’s fighting the “Geography is destiny” saying, aphorised by Ibn-i Haldun in the 14th Century. Is this a pertinent remark for Turkey and Turkish artists? In a way it is. Turkey has had many economic, social and geopolitical issues over the years. Wi...
Olcay Bayır’s music is a natural marriage of her time-honoured Anatolian heritage and the vibrant, eclectic sounds of London, which she now calls home. Of Turkish-Kurdish origin, her contemporary sound blends elements of folk, jazz and urban music with evocative vocal deliveries through original ecl...
Turkish jazz legend Okay Temiz brings his iconic Oriental Wind Ensemble to Camden’s award-winning music venue Jazz Café for an extremely rare London appearance. The classically trained multi-instrumentalist has been performing professionally since 1955 on musical devices that he has either collec...
On Sunday, 19 January, a packed house at Camden’s Jazz Café celebrated the music of Barış Manço – one of the godfathers of Anatolian Rock. This legend, who passed away 21 years ago today (1 February 1999), had a profound influence on Turkish culture. Known for his long hair, prominent jewellery a...
Next week, 12 incredible artists from Britain’s folk and world music scene will be touring as part of Band of Burns. There first stop is Union Chapel in London, on 23 January, with additional dates in Glasgow, Dumfries, and Bristol. This unique collaboration includes Dila Vardar of Dila V and The...
When London-based singer-songwriter Djanan Turan invited some musical friends to hold a tribute concert in London on the twentieth anniversary of the death of Barış Manço, few could have predicted the outcome would be quite as epic. Five hundred people packed into Jazz Café to pay homage to the l...
If you are after a Turkish-flavoured party to enjoy the last night of this decade, and greet in a new one, read on! There are several options for London Turks. The biggest is a New Year’s Eve Ball at the Prince and Princess Banqueting Suite in Edmonton. Catering for in excess of 500 guests, the n...
With his extraordinary pianistic talents, Fazıl Say, 49, has been touching the emotions of audiences and critics alike for more than 25 years. The award-winning musician and composer is famed for his improvisations and intense, epic reworkings of notable pieces such as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto...
If you’re in need of inspiration for those last minute Christmas and New Year gifts for friends and family, look no further than our fine selection below: there’s something for everyone, from books and music, to confectionary and clothes. CONFECTIONARYMarrons Glacés: ve...
Although the term ‘Istanbul Psychedelia’ defines the music of BaBa ZuLa pretty well, their inspiration is not just Istanbul, but the whole of Anatolia. The band is deeply fascinated by the sounds of the late 60s and 70s when Anatolian Pop, which later converged into Anatolian Rock, was king. Reta...
