15th Istanbul Jazz Festival scheduled for July 2

The New Anatolian/Ankara

Once again Istanbul will host a musical extravaganza as the 15th International Jazz Festival is held between July 2 and 16.

International jazz stars will give nearly 40 concerts during the festival hosted by the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation (IKSV) under the aegis of Garanti Bank.

Those concerts will take place in different locations like Cemil Topuzlu center, Sepetciler Palace, Esma Sultan Mansion, Hagia Eirene Museum, Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, Archeology Museum, Nardis Jazz Club and Istinye Park.

The festival will begin with an opening ceremony at the Esma Sultan Mansion on July 1 where prominent Turkish jazz musician Tuna Otenel will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A similar award was given to Ahmet Ertegun in 2002, Arif Mardin in 2003, Suheyl Denizci in 2004, Muvaffak "Maffy" Falay in 2005, Cuneyt Sermet in 2006 and Selcuk Sun in 2007.

Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock will be the guest of honor of this year's festival. Hancock will give two concerts on July 2 and 3.

Lenny Kravitz, one of legendary names of rock music, will meet his fans in Istanbul on July 30 as a part of his world tour --"It Is Time For A Love Revolution".

Five time Grammy award winner Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist Caetano Veloso; Italian trumpet and flugelhorn jazz player Paolo Fresu, Carla Bley who is considered one of the most important composers of modern jazz, worldwide famous bass guitar player Marcus Miller, seven time Grammy award winner Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Nnenna Freelon, Ivan Lins, Omara Portuondo, Yasmin Levy and Rufus Wainwright are among guests of this year's festival.

Trumpet master Muvaffak "Maffy" Falay will perform for jazz fans with "Maffy Falay Quintet- Turkey Meets Scandinavia".

Coolbone Band from New Orleans will conquer jazz fans with street concerts on July 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8.

"The Jazz Boat" accompanied by a musical crew formed by members of the fun loving band Coolbone and the Istanbul Saxophone Quartet will set sail from the Kabatas ferry pier at 11.00 am on July 6. The Jazz Boat will stop at Anadolu Kavagi and return to Kabatas after a two-hour trip.

Tickets ranging from 15 YTL to 120 YTL will be available through Biletix web-site and at the IKSV Office in Istanbul as of May 24.

Inform,June 2008