The Creative Music Studio in Istanbul–that just sounds like a whole lotta fun to me. You couldn’t help but come away with a different perspective on things.
The CMS-Turkey connection has been strong ever since Ismet Siral, Murat Verdi, and the Tekbilek brothers came to Woodstock in 1980. Have a look at these links:
- CMS in Istanbul? February 08, 2006
- Inauguration of the Ismet Siral Creative Music Studio in Istanbul October 06, 2006
- Different Music V; CMS Goes to Turkey June 28, 2010
- İsmet Sıral Creative Music Studio (ISCMS)
John Zorn was part of the assemblage in Istanbul this past August, along with his Masada bandmates. It’s good to see that Zorn’s connection with CMS has endured. Judging from this rundown of Zorn’s collaborations at ISCMS 2010, it must have been an amazing fete:
“John Zorn’s MASADA gave two amazing performances during the ISCMS festival in Istanbul, Turkey in August 2010. This video contains small excerpts from both days. MASADA members are:
“John Zorn (saxophone), Marc Ribot (guitar), Greg Cohen (bass), Cyro Baptista (percussions), Kenny Wollesen (vibraphone, drums)
During their performance on Saturday, MASADA jammed along with the following musicians:
• India: Trilok Gurtu (percussions), Ravi Chary (sitar), Mukti Shri Mukku (‘kathak’ dancer)
• Ghana and Gambia: Dawda Jobarteh (cora ), Nana Osibio (bass), Adam Rudolph (percussions)
• Turkey: Ömer Faruk Tekbilek (ney), Ahmet ‘Hacı’ Tekbilek (ney, baglama, alto saxophone), Ahmet Özden (zurna), Volkan Çanakkaleli (drums), İzzet Kızıl (percussions), Oğuz Büyükberber (bass clarinet, clarinet)”
“Needless to say, it was an unforgettable experience!”
That was from yourweirdneighbour (!?) who posted the first of the following two YouTube videos of Zorn at ISCMS. The first one doesn’t actually have Zorn in it, but some of his Masada mates, including the inimitable Cyro Baptista.