fugamundi x Ahmet Ali Arslan Jazz Listening Club: The 60s: Jazz Out of Bounds
Moderator: Doğukan Şayan
Guest: Ahmet Ali Arslan
This June, we turn our compass toward the boldest, most unconventional, and perhaps most "rebellious" era of jazz. For the 16th session of the Jazz Listening Club, hosted by Akbank Sanat and fugamundi, we are thrilled to welcome Ahmet Ali Arslan—a musician known for his storytelling, velvet vocals, and deep instrumental landscapes.
Theme: The 60s: Jazz Out of Bounds
The 1960s marked a turning point where jazz pushed its own limits, broke its molds, and began flirting with other genres. With Ahmet Ali Arslan, we will explore how a settled genre was "distorted" or "went rogue" through various influences, opening doors to new musical worlds. A journey awaits us, ranging from early fusion and gentle free-jazz experiments to the organic ties between world music and jazz.
Event Flow
- Part One: We will listen to a 60s selection curated by Ahmet Ali Arslan, drawn from his intense years of broadcasting at New York’s legendary jazz station WKCR. We will discuss the "deconstructing" forms and stories of the era through these tracks.
- Part Two: The floor is yours. We will randomly select and listen to tracks recommended by the audience that resonate with the theme, creating a space for collective sharing.
About the Guest
While studying Electrical Engineering at Columbia University, Ahmet Ali Arslan served as a broadcaster and manager at New York’s alternative jazz radio WKCR. Returning to Istanbul in 2015, he continued his radio journey at Açık Radyo. Known for his signature vocal and guitar style in the "Bahçeden" series, he transformed influences ranging from classical Turkish music to folk traditions into a leaner, story-driven narrative over time. Following his latest pastoral and instrumental album Manastır, Arslan continues to expand his musical map.