Istanbul to get into jazz groove for 25th festival

One of Turkey's oldest festivals, the 25th Akbank Jazz Festival has announced this year's program Celebrating a quarter century of improvisation and music, the Akbank Jazz Festival will be organized between Oct. 21 and Nov. 1 this year with acts from all over the world. 

Throughout the festival there will be 55 concerts, four panels and 13 workshops at 16 different locations, including the Cemal Re?it Rey Concert Hall, Akbank Sanat, Babylon Bomonti, Volkswagen Arena, The Seed, Caddebostan Culture Center, Stage Moda, Summart, Nardis and the Zorlu Performing Arts Center. 

David Sanborn, one of the most inspiring and successful saxophone virtuosos of all times, will go before jazz enthusiasts on Oct. 31 at Zorlu PSM. 

John Scofield and Joe Lovano made a sensation in the world of jazz when they reunited after 20 years. This time, they will share the stage at the festival on Oct. 25 at the Cemal Re?it Rey Concert Hall. 

Combining a sense of rhythm inherited from his Ivorian origins with academic studies, Manu Katché is considered one of the rare percussionists to combine African rhythms and classical drums. He will perform in the company of Norwegian contrabassist Ellen Andrea Wang on Oct. 22 at the Cemal Re?it Rey.

Another guest of the 25th Akbank Jazz Festival is Grammy-winner Bill Frisell, who has left his mark on jazz history. The artist will offer an unforgettable performance on Oct. 23 at the Zorlu Performing Arts Center. 

Another Grammy winner, David Murray, composed a three-part-suite following the death in 2013 of his close friend Mehmet Ulu?, who had led the artist to visit Turkey 25 years ago. On Oct. 27 at Babylon Bomonti, the artist will perform his "Mehmet Ulu? Suite," as well...