Istanbul’s Jazz Festival to return in September

The dates and lineup of the much-awaited 28th Istanbul Jazz Festival have been announced and it is set to kick off in September this year, welcoming music lovers once again.

The lineup of the event was launched at a press conference on June 22. The festival will be organized in open-air venues throughout the city from Sept. 1 to 18 and will also present free concerts with the motto #cazhissediyorum, which means "I feel jazz."

Görgün Taner, the general manager of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and the organizer of the event, said, "The last one and a half year, which will be remembered as an unprecedented period, has once again revealed that culture and art is a basic need and should always be among the priorities. As life begins to return to its normal course, we can't wait to come together at concerts. The 28th Istanbul Jazz Festival will also present a rich and varied program in parks and open-air venues across Istanbul, including free concerts for audiences of all ages. We will remember together how good art and music are for us."

Also speaking at the meeting, Istanbul Jazz Festival Director Harun İzer stated that they planned to organize the festival in September by taking into account the current conditions.

"Despite the difficult conditions, İKSV will organize the Istanbul Jazz Festival in the city this year, with stage workers and different stakeholders of the cultural life. It will contribute to the revival of cultural and artistic activities and will bring musicians together with the stage and audience once again," İzer said.

The highlights of the festival include singer, actor, writer and activist Angelique Kidjo's "An African Odyssey." Kidjo, a four-time Grammy winner and a UNICEF Goodwill...