31st Istanbul Jazz Festival to Begin on July 3rd
The countdown has begun for the 31st Istanbul Jazz Festival, inviting music enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the flow of jazz. The festival, which will bring music to the month of July, is set to take place from July 3rd to 18th. It will be held in some of Istanbul’s most special venues and will feature a program including leading names in contemporary music and jazz such as Gregory Porter, Arlo Parks, YolanDa Brown, Joshua Redman, Chris Isaak, Baptiste Trotignon, and the Modern Art Orchestra.
Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the 31st Istanbul Jazz Festival will kick off on Wednesday, July 3rd, with an Awards Night. Nilüfer Verdi and Nino Varon will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards during the event, which will be held in the garden of the Austrian Consulate’s Austrian Cultural Office. The evening will feature a performance by the Austrian group Saint Privat, transporting the audience to the southern coasts of France.
Running until July 18th, the festival will feature over 40 concerts, bringing together more than 200 local and international artists, ranging from renowned masters to new voices. This 16-day festival marathon offers a diverse selection, combining discoveries and classics, and covering genres beyond jazz, including rock, pop, blues, reggae, funk, and more, ensuring there is a concert for everyone.
Among the artists performing at the festival are two-time Grammy-winning jazz legend Gregory Porter; Chris Isaak, the versatile and romantic prince of rock’n roll known for hits like “Wicked Game,” “Blue Hotel,” and “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing”; Joshua Redman, one of the greatest living saxophonists with his timeless and innovative music; Jamaican-born British jazz maestro YolanDa Brown; Baptiste Trotignon, one of Europe’s most intriguing and dynamic jazz pianists; Arlo Parks, the young star of R&B, soul, and indie, making her first concert appearance in Turkey; and Hungary’s innovative Modern Art Orchestra, led by Kornél Fekete-Kovács.
Traditional festival events continue
The festival’s traditional events will also continue this year. The +1 Night Walk, creating a “festival within a festival” atmosphere in Kadıköy’s beautiful venues, will feature performances by Thomas Azier and Baby’s Berserk from the Netherlands, along with Turkish acts Gevende, Korhan Futacı, and many other popular names. The Jazz Ferry, one of the festival’s most beloved events, will once again bring audiences together with the Bosphorus through the sounds of jazz and swing. The free Jazz in the Parks concerts will spread music across the city, combining jazz with nature.
A new addition to the festival’s expanding range of events is An Evening of Jazz in Pera. Music lovers can experience magical nights in Beyoğlu with performances at Salon İKSV, Minoa Pera, and Pera 77. The lineup includes Kristjan Randalu Absence Trio, blending the spontaneity of jazz with the tradition of classical music, pianist Can Çankaya Trio with a surprise guest, and Dilek Sert Erdoğan with her powerful voice, rebellious nuances, and soft tones in “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin.
