Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek – Yarın Yoksa

One of Berlin’s most incredible live acts, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, has a new album out.  From their Bandcamp site: “Big Crown Records is proud to present Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek’s latest album Yarın Yoksa. The show stopping intensity of Derya backed by the psychedelic soul of Grup Continue Reading

Selen Gülün – Years

On this tenth album by Turkish pianist (and frequent visitor to Japan) Selen Gülün, she remains in fine form.  She’s no stranger to our blog, and it’s been far too long since we had the pleasure of hearing modern jazz done right.  From her Bandcamp site: “Selen Gülün’s tenth album, Continue Reading

Deben Bhattacharya – Behind the Scenes of ‘Ecstatic Dances of the Whirling and Howling Dervishes’

From the Youtube link: “Ecstatic Dances of the Whirling and Howling Dervishes of Turkey and Syria: http://store.arcmusic.co.uk/ecstatic-… The Mevlevi Order of the Whirling Dervishes was inaugurated in Turkey in 1273. This CD features dances of the Whirling Dervishes from Turkey and Syria. These are authentic field recordings by ethnomusicologist Deben Continue Reading

Various Artists – Les Disques Bongo Joe: Solidarity With February 2023 Earthquake Victims

The earthquake which has ravaged Turkey and Syria should not be forgotten about despite the blindingly fast news barrage we’re living through. The Swiss label Bongo Joe have offered this pay-what-you-like compilation featuring Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, Oldu O Zaman and Altın Gün, who have graciously given tracks to Continue Reading

Schola Cantorum, Ensemble Trinitas, The New England Mehterhane and five different DÜNYA ensembles – A Story of The City: Constantinople, Istanbul

Turkish-American composer Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol directs Schola Cantorum, Ensemble Trinitas, The New England Mehterhane and five different DÜNYA ensembles in a sumptuous history of Istanbul/Constantinople via music from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.