– Cult rock star Steven Wilson to play in Istanbul
English singer and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson will play in Turkey for the first time at Istanbul’s Zorlu Performing Arts Center on May 2 as part of his current European tour.
The 48-year-old singer/composer is currently a solo singer, but he became well-known during the ‘90s with his progressive-psychedelic band Porcupine.
Wilson’s critically acclaimed latest album “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” hit music markets last February.
The musician, who performs barefoot in concert, said on his website that the tour has already included many memorable shows.
“I am especially looking forward to meeting fans in Bulgaria and Turkey, as this will be my first-ever visit to those countries,” he said.
“We have days off in both Sofia and Istanbul,” he added.
http://stevenwilsonhq.com/
– Cuban jazz pianist to perform in Istanbul
Young Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez will be performing at Istanbul’s Babylon Bomonti on April 30, marking International Jazz Day.
The 30-year-old Cuban pianist has been touted by famous US record producer Quincy Jones.
Rodriguez released his first album “Sounds of Space” in 2012 and his second “The Invasion Parade” in 2016.
This year, the Grammy-nominated musician released his latest album “Tocororo,” inspired by a bird native to Cuba that if caged dies of sadness.
Rodriguez moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to win more recognition for his music.
“It was not that I would have given up on music if I stayed in Cuba – I definitely would have continued to do what I love, but it just was not the right environment for my music to flourish,” he says on his official website.
“Just as a Tocororo needs room to fly, my music needed the platform and the opportunity to be heard by more people than would otherwise have been touched if I stayed,” he said.
Rodriguez will lead a trio with Reinier Elizarde Ruano on bass and Michael Olivera Garcia on drums.
http://www.alfredomusic.com/
– Yasmin Levy to perform in Istanbul
Israeli singer/songwriter Yasmin Levy, a performer of Sephardic origin with family roots in Turkey, will take the stage at Istanbul’s Zorlu Performing Arts Center on May 5.
The 40-year-old performer is considered by many as the leading singer in Ladino – an ancient mix of Hebrew and Spanish.
The award-winning singer is also well known for her emotional songs such as “Naci en Alamo” and “La Alegria.”
Her music is a mix of Sephardic influences and the musical traditions of the Middle East and Anatolia. She also combines Middle Eastern instruments such as the darbuka, oud, and European instruments like violin, cello, and piano.
http://www.yasminlevy.net/
