20.00 ERCÜMENT ORKUT TRIO: Ercüment Orkut piano, Kağan Yıldız double bass, Volkan Öktem drums

21.00 DIANNE REEVES: Dianne Reeves vocal, John Beasley piano, Romero Lubambo guitar, Itaiguara Brandão bass, Terreon Gully drums, Hüsnü Şenlendirici clarinet

The legendary voice of Jazz is in Istanbul

She is one of the greatest voices not only of jazz but also in the history of music. Words fall short to describe what an outstanding jazz vocalist five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves is. Reeves approaches jazz vocals like an opera singer and is often compared to the legendary Sarah Vaughan. She knows how to keep her emotion in balance with her technique. Dianne Reeves has proven that she is unquestionably one of the greatest vocals in the history of music at the concert she performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Her last studio album, Beautiful Life, which brought her the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2015, was recorded with a younger generation of jazz musicians, including Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, and Esperanza Spalding. Reeves holds honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music and the Juilliard School. On the 50th anniversary of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, and the 29th anniversary of the Istanbul Jazz Festival, Dianne Reeves’ voice will echo throughout Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre, one of the venues identified with Istanbul and the festival.

Get ready for a surprise! Every year, Istanbul Jazz Festival brings about unexpected partnerships by coupling musicians from Turkey and the world. In this concert, Reeves will once again share the stage, after their first stage appearance on the International Jazz Day in 2013, with the world-famous clarinet virtuoso Hüsnü Şenlendirici. Şenlendirici is known for his interpretations of Roman melodies through the lens of pop, jazz and funk. Leading up to Reeves, the composer-pianist Ercüment Orkut, who has produced in a wide range of genres from classical jazz to contemporary, will greet the audience with his trio. With his 2018 album Persona, Orkut was praised by the world-famous jazz musician and producer George Whitty with the words, ‘With his striking sentences and confident playing style, as well as his sense in music, Ercüment Orkut has been one of the best discoveries I have made in recent years.’ Do not miss the chance to witness the genius of Ercüment Orkut before Dianne Reeves on stage.

Before the concert, a plaque ceremony will be held in a duration of five minutes.