Istanbul to host 15th Jazz Festival
21 May 2008, Turkish Times

The festival will present nearly 40 concerts, bringing audiences prominent jazz artists from around the world, as well as esteemed figures on the pop, rock, folk and world music scene. The Istanbul International Jazz Festival, to be held July 2-16, plans to celebrate its 15th anniversary this year by converting Istanbul into a city of jazz, complete with a special anniversary program and some big-name acts.

As usual, the festival's concerts will be spread across various venues in the city. In addition to the usual venues “Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater, Sepetciler Kasr, Esma Sultan Palace, Hagia Eirene Museum, Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, and the Istanbul Archeological Museum” the Nardis Jazz Club and Istinye Park will also serve as venues for this year's performances.

The festival will feature national and international stars, including Herbie Hancock and trio, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stacey Kent, Raul Midón, Sibel Köse and the Al Schackman Band, Lenny Kravitz, Caetano Veloso, Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow, Billy Drummond. Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano, Jan Lundgren, Yasmin Levy, Funk Fever, Marcus Miller, Omara Portuondo, Tito Rodriguez jr. and Machito jr., Taksim trio featuring Zakir Hussain, New Folks, Rufus Wainwright, Ivan Lins special project, Maffy Falay Quintet, Sabri Tulu;rpan & Wolfgang Puschnig Rhythm Section, Oliver Grönewald & Önder Focan group, Alp Ersönmez trio, Sibel Köse & Jean-Loup Longnon, Burak Bedikyan & Kestutis Vaiginis, Sarp Maden quartet feat. Stéphane Belmondo, Baki Duyarlar & Stanislav Mitrovic, and the Raul Midón, Istanbul saxophone quartet.