Istanbul Jazz Festival to host Turkish premiere

The 21st Istanbul Jazz Festival kicks off tomorrow. The event hosts the premiere of Turkish composer, author and musician Zülfü Livaneli’s new piece composed for the poems of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi Organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Arts and Culture (İKSV), the 21st Istanbul Jazz Festival begins tomorrow. Taking place across 13 different venues until July 16 and hosting over 200 local and international acts including masters like Hugh Laurie, Katie Melua, Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke, as well as the rising stars of international jazz, such as Cécile Mclorin Salvant and Kellylee Evans, the festival will also bring the magic of jazz to the city’s parks with this year’s new event, “Jazz in the Parks.”

During its first week, the 21st Istanbul Jazz Festival will host Turkey’s premiere composer, author and musician Zülfü Livaneli’s new piece composed for the poems of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, “Rumi Suite: The Eternal Day.” The concert, Livaneli as composer including his on-stage presentation, will take place at Sepetçiler Kasrı on July 2.

Coming to life after a two-year process, Mevlana’s poems were translated from Persian to English for the “Rumi Suite: The Eternal Day” project. “Rumi Suite: The Eternal Day,” in which Livaneli blends jazz forms with traditional Turkish music, will be performed by a powerful ensemble that has worked with the artist many times before: The Henning Schmiedt Ensemble, led by pianist Henning Schmiedt, features famous jazz vocalist Romy Camerun, ney (reed instrument) player Burcu Karadağ who has worked with many masterful names from Fazıl Say to Sertab Erener, Trilok Gurtu, and Okay...