Akbank Jazz fest opens with Malia

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Akbank Jazz Fest opens with “Malia Sings Nina Simone” program, which takes place in The Seed.

The 23rd Akbank Jazz Festival opens with Malia. The program titled “Malia Sings Nina Simone” takes place on Sept. 25 at The Seed. The program is a nostalgic journey through Nina Simone’s songs. In her latest album Black Orchid, Malia successfully interpreted Nina Simone’s masterpieces like “Four Women,” “If You Go Away,” “Don’t Explain,” “Baltimore,” “Feeling Good,” “Wild Is The Wind,” “Marriage Is For Old Folks.”
Being considered as one of the most important soul jazz singers of our time, she perfectly reflects the feelings of love, abandonment, betrayal that are necessary to interpret Nina Simone’s songs faithfully. Malia will take the stage at The Seed as the opening performance of the 23rd Akbank Jazz Festival.

Guests of festival

The festival this year hosts many jazz musicians. Some of the names that stand out in the program are Cassandra Wilson, Harriet Tubman, Enrico Rava, Mare Nostrum and Nicholas Payton, Mos Def, Mulatu Astatke, Sex Mob, Lost Fingers, Jehan Barbur featuring İlhan Erşahin and Jim Rotondi.

John Surman, one of England’s greatest English saxophone players will bring his unique style to the festival with a concert.

Mare Nostrum, a project consisting of critically appraised European musicians including Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordion player Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren, will also perform at the festival. The “Sounds of the New World” section will feature Rotondi, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nicholas, Astatke, Harriet Tubman & Cassandra Wilson, Mos Def, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz.