14th INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the International Istanbul Jazz Festival will take place July 3 - 18 this year. Generously sponsored by GARANTİ BANK, the Istanbul Jazz Festival will present 40 concerts and host more than 200 artists.


NORAH JONES AT ISTANBUL JAZZ FESTIVAL
One of the most popular female singers of our times, Norah Jones is coming to Turkey for the jazz festival right after releasing her latest album "Not Too Late." Jones will be on stage at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre on the evening of August 1, Wednesday.

A SPECIAL "EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB"
This year, the
International Istanbul Jazz Festival introduces an important novelty: In the heart of Istanbul, a very special and unique venue will be converted into a jazz club! The garden of the French Cultural Center at the entrance to İstiklal Street in Beyoğlu will house the European Jazz Club - one of the most beautiful festival spots. It is also the intention of the European Jazz Club to build a platform for European and Turkish artists to perform together at the threshold of 2010 when Istanbul will be the European Capital of Culture. It is highly probable that, after the concerts in the European Jazz Club, the night will continue with fascinating jam sessions.

The first concert in the European Jazz Club will be by one of Turkey's best jazz vocalists Sibel Köse and her group on July 4, Wednesday at 22.00. They will be accompanied by the world-renowned Dutch pianist Michiel Borstlap.

With their album "5 O'clock Tea" released last year, South Maxico became a big success in Switzerland and Europe. This year, they will be the second guest at the European Jazz Club on July 7, Saturday at 22.00. The experienced jazz guitarist Max Schultz is leading the quartet. The group also features a Turkish musician on percussion: Mehmet İkiz.

"The major common denominator of Turkish music and jazz can be improvisation." This is the idea on which The Bosporus Project work to mix the Istanbul-origin Turkish music with jazz. At their concert on July 10, Tuesday at 22.00 the band will be accompanied by one of the most prominent French jazz musicians of the tenor sax, Stéphane Spira.

The last concert at the European Jazz Club will be by one of Turkey's best musicians, Selçuk Sun on July 13, Friday at 22.00. In this very distinctive concert, Sun will be accompanied by Bodil Niska, the esteemed Norwegian tenor sax player.

ROBERT PLANT & THE STRANGE SENSATION - FROM ROCK TO WORLD MUSIC
One of the guests of this year's jazz festival will be the legendary Robert Plant. The voice of the celebrated rock group Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant will meet festival-goers at the Open Air Theatre, July 4, Wednesday at 21.30. Plant is a must-see with his powerful voice and stage performance that is reminiscent of his early years.

BOB DYLAN CLASSICS FROM BRYAN FERRY
Seven years later, Bryan Ferry is once again at Istanbul Jazz Festival! Ferry will be performing at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre stage on July 5, Thursday at 21.00. Ferry will perform songs from his new album: "Dylansque". The album features some of the most beautiful interpretations of Dylan classics such as "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", "Times They Are A-Changin" and "Positively 4th Street".

THE UNFORGETTABLE VOICE OF THE BEE GEES: ROBIN GIBB
One of the most important concerts of the festival this year is that of the Bee Gees' soloist Robin Gibb. Gibb will be presenting a very special project on July 10, Tuesday at 21.00 at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre. Organised in memory of the world famous producer, Arif Mardin, and Ahmet Ertegün, the concert of Robin Gibb will feature the most loved Bee Gees classics, as well as the Gibb's solo songs from his singular musical career.

A MODERN REPRESENTATIVE OF THE "BIG BAND" TRADITION: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA & WYNTON MARSALIS
Another must-see of the festival is the concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra conducted by Wynton Marsalis on July 11, Wednesday at 21.00 at Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre. The orchestra is one of the most prominent followers of the Big Band tradition with their varied approach to jazz. Currently, Wynton Marsalis is the art director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and with his technical wisdom and deep knowledge of classical jazz, surprises the audiences with a different and modern style as can be seen in his latest album, "From The Plantation to the Penitentiary".

MICHAEL BOLTON SINGS SINATRA
Almost 53 million copies of his albums were sold to date. He received countless musical awards - this alone sums up the musical career of Michael Bolton and makes him one of the most prominent pop stars. However, he will be presenting his latest project "Bolton Swings Sinatra" at the Istanbul concert. Bolton will be playing and singing classics from the legendary Frank Sinatra at Sepetçiler Kasrı on July 3, Tuesday at 22.00.

TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER MANY YEARS: JOE SAMPLE TRIO & RANDY CRAWFORD
A major jazz/funk band of the 70s, The Crusaders' famous "Street Life" brought these two musicians together for the first time. Randy Crawford and Joe Sample come together once again 30 years after the release of this album! Crawford and Sample will meet jazz-lovers at Esma Sultan Yalısı on July 12, Thursday at 22.00 for a night full of jazz, R&B, soul, pop and latin music.

SPIKE LEE AND TERENCE BLANCHARD
"The Jazz under The Stars" series will be hosting world famous trumpet player
Terence Blanchard and director Spike Lee on July 17, Tuesday on the Sepetçiler Kasrı stage at 22.00. Already staged in London, New York and Chicago, "The Movie Music of Spike Lee & Terence Blanchard" concerts made a big hit wherever they appeared. Visiting Istanbul for the first time, this project is an awe-inspiring concert experience featuring the famous trumpet player Terence Blanchard - known for his film scores, his band and a chamber orchestra of 20 musicians. The host of the night will be Spike Lee.

ALTERNATIVE SOUNDS AT THE "NEW FOLKS SERIES" OF THE FESTIVAL
BLONDE REDHEAD AT THE ISTANBUL MODERN
One of the leading alternative rock bands of our day, Blonde Redhead have after each album added to their fans a plethora of devoted audiences. Renowned with albums with striking names as "Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons" and "Misery Is A Butterfly" and songs such as "Elephant Woman" and "Falling Man", the band made a big success with their latest album "23" released this year. Blonde Redhead will be performing on July 3, Tuesday at 21.30 at the Istanbul Modern Sculpture Garden.

TWO MAGICAL SOUNDS : "ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS" AND JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
Istanbul will host two magical sounds at the most vital concert of the New Folks section of the Jazz Festival on July 8, Sunday. The star of the night will be Antony & The Johnsons who won Great Britain's most prominent contemporary music award, the Mercury Award in 2005. Famous with Antony Hegarty's unique and alluring voice, the band is one of the best and most original catches of the recent years. Hegarty's charming voice is often compared to Aaron Neville, Nina Simone and Bryan Ferry. Before the concert of Antony & The Johnsons, song and lyrics writer José González who is most loved in Turkey with his singles "Heartbeats" and "Crosses" will take the stage at 20.00.