Istanbul to be treated to jazz, experimental music from Poland

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Musician Korhan Futacı

The critically acclaimed Jazz and Experimental Music from Poland (JEMP) festival heads to Istanbul between Oct. 19 and 26 for its first-ever edition abroad as part of the 2014 cultural program celebrating 600 years of Polish-Turkish diplomatic relations.

Taking place at various venues across the city, including Salon İKSV, Mixer, ITU Maçka Camous and Arkaoda, the festival will showcase an eclectic mix of free jazz, electroacoustic improvisation, deconstructed classical Ottoman music and other experimental styles. In addition to concerts, there will be residencies, installations and sound art projects, all involving cross-border partnerships.

In an exciting departure from the first three editions of JEMP, this year’s program consists mostly of specially commissioned collaborations between Polish and Turkish musicians or artists.

Opening the festival on Oct. 19 at Arkaoda is Piotr Kurek, who will be joined by Istanbul’s Ekin Fil for a collaborative project featuring a piece for voice, guitar and synthesizer blending the music of two artists notable for their own solo work. The double bill continues with Stara Rzeka, performing music from his new long-form composition of the same name.

At Salon İKSV, local musicians Umut Çağlar and Korhan Futacı of KonstruKt –Turkey’s free improvisation band – will work with Polish musicians Rafal Mazur and Dominik Strycharski.

Other highlights will include contemporary music ensemble Kwartludium that will be collaborating with Çağlayan Yıldız to “deconstruct” works by Polish-Ottoman musician Wojciech Bobkowski (known as Ali Ufki). Songs of Resistance, a site-specific performance by Zorka Wollny, will explore the theme of fury and anger through their unique combination of live performance – collaborating with two local choirs – and visual art.

Coming to what promises to be a memorable close, Krzysztof Topolski, together with Hubert Zemler, will work on the Drum Channels project involving research, field recording sessions and performances in collaboration with local cymbal-making workshops.

The festival is produced by Arts Territory, a non-profit London-based arts organization.
For further info, please visit www.jempfestival.com