Türkiye - Istanbul Part III

 Continuing in the metropolis that is Istanbul we next encounter the Taksim Trio.  The term Taksim apparently means improvisation.  The 3 members are each masters of their instruments, namely the clarinet played by Hüsnü Şenlendirici, Ismail Tunçbilek on the baglama and Aytaç Doğan on the qanun.  There music is a blend of avant-garde jazz and Arabesque and exudes a beautifully atmospheric sound.  Here's a tune from their 2007 self-titled album called Gözüm:

Folk singer Çiğdem Aslan was born in Istanbul in 1980 to a Kurdish-Alevi background.  She sings in a variety of languages and styles including Rebetika, but also folk styles from various parts of Anatolia and Sephardic music.  She is known for her rich, earthy voice.  Here is a song from her 2016 album A Thousand Cranes called Tourna:

The DEM Trio is a group of musicians highlighting the sounds of the bağlama and tambur string instruments and the mixed cultural heritage of the city of Istanbul.  Occasionally they record as a an extended group, the DEM Ensemble as on their 2013 album Erguvan, named after a small pink flower symbolising Istanbul.  Here is a tune from that album, performed as a trio only, called Sabahın seherinde ötüyor kuşlar (Birds are singing in the morning):

Also drawing on the Rebetiko or Rembetiko tradition is the orchestra Café Aman Istanbul, who were founded in 2009.  They are reviving the spirit of the Café Aman taverns that were a symbol of the melting-pot culture of the Ottoman Empire of a century ago.  Here is a song from their 2012 album Fasl-ı Rembetiko called Apo To Vradi Os To Proi:

We already came across percussionist Burhan Öçal in Thrace playing with the Thracian Allstars.  Before that he led the Istanbul Oriental Ensemble.  Here is the opening track from their 1998 album Sultan's Secret Door called Mahur Oriental:

Indie folk band Zeyn'el draw their inspiration from the Anatolian troubadors of the 14th to 16th century, giving them a modern twist and touch upon their relevance to today, talking about prejudice and injustice.  Here is the opening song from their 2013 album Divan & Divine called Elâ gözlü pirim geldi with some nice scenery from Istanbul:

The Kolektif Istanbul focus on the musical cross between Anatolian cultures, Balkan wedding music, Jazz and funk.  With traditional string instruments and a fair peppering of brass they kick up quite a storm.  Here is the opening track from their 2008 album Krivoto called Makedonsko: 

That's it from Istanbul for now, even though there are many more artists I could mention.  Next we are travelling down the west coast of Turkey, in the meantime you follow my virtual ramblings on my Tripline map.