The three stars of Istanbul Jazz Festival’s grand finale

ISTANBUL

The 22nd Istanbul Jazz Festival will come to an end on the 15th of July with three concerts you do not want to miss at Unig Open Air Stage in Istanbul.

Young trumpeter Theo Croker will start off the festival’s grand finale, followed by the neo-soul quartet, Hiatus Kaiyote. The final part of the concert will be performed by British soul musician Michael Kiwanuka. 


Theo Croker 


Theodore Lee Croker is a young jazz trumpeter and singer from Florida, U.S. His album, “AfroPhysicist,” is believed to be one of this year’s best jazz albums. To boot, he comes from a musical family; he is the grandson of the Grammy Award winning trumpeter, Doc Cheatham. His first album was funded by a grant from the Presser Music Foundation Award he received in early 2006. Marcus Belgrave, proclaimed jazz trumpeter, has said of Crocker, “[He] is one of the most promising and creative trumpeters on the horizon today and is also one of the most energetic artists I have ever encountered.” 


Hiatus Kaiyote 


The neo-soul quartet first formed in Melbourne, Australia. Although Hiatus Kaiyote’s sound is generally categorized as a neo-soul, it also resembles future soul. As shown by their Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance in 2009, their stage presence is admired by many.  Since 2011, they have released three albums (“Tawk Tomahawk,” “Choose Your Weapon” and “By Fire”) along with a single, “Live in Revolt.” 


Michael Kiwanuka


Michael Kiwanuka, the winner of the BBC Sound of 2012 poll, will perform in Istanbul for the first time at the closing concert. Kiwanuka is a graduate of the School of Media, Arts and Design at the University of Westminster. After being signed by Polydor Records, he played alongside famous artists such as Adele. He has one album released called “Home Again,” which acquired him a Mercury Music Award nomination, and four singles, all in 2012. He has been compared to musical virtuosos such as Bill Withers and Otis Redding; however, he is mainly praised for his exceptional voice. His sound has been associated with genres such as acoustic, soul and folk.