Dear Jazz Fans
Akbank, one of the leading global financial institutions, is firmly establishing a place for itself also in the field of art day by day. We have put into service AKSANAT "Akbank Culture, Art, and Education Center" that we had promised in our first festival booklet last year, which turned out to be an extremely busy year for us in art activities. Akbank Chamber Orchestra also became the focus of attention with special concerts it gave besides its monthly concerts.
We will also be bringing you together with both different and skilled names of the world of jazz in our Jazz Festival this year, which has rather become a tradition instead of being just an activity. While enjoying the African dimension of jazz through the groups of two very important pianists, Randy Weston and Don Pullen, you can also follow Abbey Lincoln, one of the two living jazz divas, a virtuoso such as Archie Shepp, who has shaped a period of jazz, Steve Coleman, one of the architects of M-Base movement, extraordinary pianists such as Aydin Esen and Kirk Lightsey, as well as Can Kozlu/George Garzone, Yildiz Ibrahimova/Antoine Herve and Evan Parker/Barry Guy duos in this year's festival.
This year, we have also aimed at reaching jazz fans all over the world through advertisements in prominent music magazines which gave extensive coverage to our festival last year such as Billboard, Down Beat Wire, Jazzology, and Jazz Podium. Based on the positive response we have been receiving, we think the festival will be followed with increased interest from overseas.
This year's festival, which is so rich with activities as to extend over a two-week period, will be realized in three different locations: Ataturk Cultural Center - following the opening concert to be held in the Grand Hall, you will witness the solo and duet activities of the festival at Aksanat "Akbank Culture, Art, and Education Center" throughout one week. The festival will come to an end after four days of concerts to be held at Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, as is the case every year.
Wishing to come together at the 4th Akbank International Jazz Festival, which is growing by the year and starting to be mentioned among prominent jazz festivals in the world, we leave you together with two weeks full of jazz.