İlham Gencer, who is considered as one of the key figures of Turkish jazz music, will take the stage with his piano at the tea time event that will be hold in Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah. Gencer states that, since he never received formal music education, he does not know how to read notes and thus plays and sings extemporaneously. During the 1940s he formed the first local jazz band of the period; a trio of piano, clarinet, and voice and hosted radio programmes on İstanbul Radio between 1949 and 1963. Gencer is known as the first to start the tradition of Turkish pop music with lyrics and helped many famous names, including Berkant, Ajda Pekkan, Cem Karaca, Füsun Önal, and Emel Sayın, become known in the music industry. In his 60th year of music, he released his jazz album entitled “Bir Yaşayan Çınar” (A Living History). Don’t forget to make your reservation for this special meeting in the magical ambiance of Pera Palace, where tea and exceptional delicacies will be served!