New names to perform at the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival have been announced
Akbank Jazz Festival, Istanbul's most established jazz tradition, is preparing to host the leading musicians of the world stage in different venues of the city in its 36th year. The highly anticipated new names from the festival program, which will take place between 26 September and 11 October 2026, have been shared.
In the festival organized by Akbank Sanat, which supports art in every discipline, with the organization of BKM; Kassa Overall, one of the most daring futurists of modern jazz, who can effortlessly combine jazz with hip-hop and avant-garde experiments; Yazmin Lacey, one of the powerful voices of the British jazz and neo-soul scene, is preparing to fascinate the audience with her deep storytelling and smoky vocal style with her concert to be held with the support of the British Council; Greek vocalist Savina Yannatou, who brings together different musical traditions with a bold style, and Tunisian singer Lamia Bedioui, who will accompany Primavera en Salonico, with whom she has been working for many years, as well as saxophonist Cochemea, who has worked with great names from Amy Winehouse to Quincy Jones, will also take the stage with her mystical and timeless melodies that extend from the past to the future.
36. This year, Akbank Jazz Festival includes special projects representing intercultural and intergenerational unity. Bringing together the masters of Polish and Turkish jazz on a cultural bridge stretching from Warsaw to Istanbul, Sibel Köse is implementing the "Jazz Bridge from the Vistula to the Bosphorus" project within the scope of the festival, with the contributions of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Istanbul. On the other hand, the 15-piece jazz orchestra "Emin Fındıkoğlu +12", which brings together experienced masters and young stars of jazz, led by Emin Fındıkoğlu, the legendary pianist, composer, arranger and conductor of jazz history, takes its place among the most magnificent meetings of the festival. In the festival program, VELVELE, the joint project of Istanbul-based drummer Danae Palaka, who blends jazz, krautrock and Anatolian rhythms, as well as Merve Salgar, who brings traditional tanbur performance to a contemporary language with her experimental improvisations, and cellist and improviser Anıl Eraslan, who has a musical palette ranging from traditional music to jazz and experimental music, also draws attention.
One of the biggest surprises of the festival this year, the "ACT Night" series, designed in cooperation with ACT Music, brings together young talents and master names of European jazz at the festival. Tunisian oud genius and vocalist Dhafer Youssef, one of the most original musical figures of his time, meets Istanbul music lovers with his new album 'Shiraz' as part of ACT Night. Again under the umbrella of this special series; Robinson Khoury, the prestigiousPrix Django Reinhardt award-winning trombonist of the French jazz scene, promises a performance that pushes the limits of consciousness with his new project MŸA "Transara" which offers electro-acoustic soundscapes. On another special night of the series, the Young European Stars ensemble, led by Germany's favorite saxophonist Jakob Manz, takes the stage; Exciting talents from the new generation of jazz will come together at the meeting, where award-winning young stars such as Shuteen Erdenebaatar, Nils Kugelmann, Jakob Bänsch and Leo Asal will take the stage.
The 36th Akbank Jazz Festival program, which will be enriched with new names to be announced in the coming months, will spread to different parts of Istanbul between 26 September and 11 October 2026. Festival tickets available for sale through Biletix also include a special 15% discount privilege for Wings.
ANNOWNED PROGRAM
Joe Armon-Jones26 September 2026 // Frankhan SelectistSouth London keyboardist, producer, composer and bandleader Joe Armon-Jones is a founding member of the band Ezra Collective and a graduate of the jazz education program Tomorrow's Warriors.With his performance and improvisational skills, he has become a sought-after figure in many projects in different genres. Armon-Jones, who founded his own record label Aquarii Records in 2021 after releasing two albums under Gilles Peterson's label Brownswood Recordings, signed club-oriented collaborations with dubstep pioneer Mala and his long-term creative partner Maxwell Owin. The musician's biggest creative expansion to date was with All The Quiet, consisting of two albums released in 2025. He was accompanied by guests such as Asheber, Greentea Peng, Wu Lu, Hak Baker and Yazmin Lacey as he expanded his musical universe towards new sounds and forms of expression in these two albums, which, although conceptually connected to each other, have different characters. Joe Armon-Jones will be on the Frankhan Selectist stage on September 26 as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Danae Palaka
26 September 2026 // Yeldeğirmeni Sanat
Istanbul-based drummer and composer Danae Palaka; It brings together contemporary jazz, krautrock and electronic music traditions with rhythms inspired by Anatolia, the Balkans and Afrobeat. Born in Athens to a musical family whose roots extend to Istanbul, Palaka moved to Istanbul to more closely explore both the cultural heritage of the city and his own story. Since then, he has continued his production on local and international stages. In October 2024, the record label of Zozo, one of the important selectors of the Turkish electronic music scene, A.F.O.M. INT. He released his first album, Velox, under the label. The album, which he shared with Nikos Dervisis as producer, features the interaction between drums and analog synthesizers; By layering it with intricate rhythms and dreamy textures, it transforms it into a sound universe that mixes with blood. Danae Palaka will be at Yeldeğirmeni Sanat on September 26 as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Danae Palaka: Drums, samplerEzgi Sevgi Can: SaxophoneNikos Dervisis: SynthesizerÖmer Dominic Akalın: Bass guitarMomoko Gill27 September 2026 // Yeldeğirmeni Sanat Momoko Gill is one of the hidden gems of the UK electronic music and jazz scene. Gill is a self-taught drummer, producer, composer and vocalist; To date, he has added his unique touch to the collaborations he has made with Alabaster DePlume, Matthew Herbert, Coby Sey, Tirzah and Nadeem Din-Gabisi. Extensive touring experience behind the drum set, at the keyboards and in front of the microphone has sharpened his compositional and production instincts. His first solo album, Momoko, released under the Strut label in February 2026, underlines that he is a composer and performer who consciously stays away from imitation and builds his music on intuition and expressiveness rather than traditions. The first Istanbul concert of the musician, who lives in London, will take place at Yeldeğirmeni Sanat on September 27, with the support of the British Council, as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Sarathy Korwar Drum EnsembleSeptember 29, 2026 // Salon İKSV Sarathy Korwar, who stands out as one of the most original and remarkable voices of the British jazz scene; He continues his productions as a drummer, composer, producer and band leader. While his songs combine jazz with electronic textures, Indian folk music and classical traditions, they focus on coming to terms with the colonial legacy, the idea of community, racism and the search for transcendence. The musician's latest album, There Is Beauty, There Already , released in the fall of 2025, garnered praise from the global music press, while The Quietus magazine commented, "It makes visible the depths that drums can reach as a tool of ascension." He included his words. Sarathy Korwar Drum Ensemble will be on the Salon İKSV stage on September 29, as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival, with the support of the Consulate General of India.
Sarathy Korwar: Drums, tabla, electronicsMagnus Mehta: Balophone, marimba, percussionDonna Thomson: Drums, electronicsPrathap Ramchandran: Mridangam, ghatam, kanjir ACT Night: Robinson Khoury MŸA "Transara"
September 30, 2026 // CommunityTrombonist and composer Robinson Khoury is one of the rising names of the French jazz scene in recent years.Drawing attention with her eclectic approach, Khoury came to the fore with her works with Ibrahim Maalouf and Natacha Atlas a few years ago; He then performed as a soloist with the Metropole Orkest and was a member of the Quincy Jones Orchestra in 2019. The musician, who embarked on a musical quest towards the organic origins of life with his new project MŸA, explores ancient rhythms and timbres within the electro-acoustic soundscapes he shaped with a modular synthesizer. At the center of MŸA, which is nourished by the jazz tradition and Middle Eastern modes, is the band's wordless vocals. In March 2025, Khoury was awarded the Prix Django Reinhardt, one of the most prestigious awards in the French jazz world, and was selected as the jazz musician of the year. His 2026 album, Transara, is described as “a gateway to an invisible world; an invitation to the listener on a journey that extends beyond the boundaries of consciousness.” Robinson Khoury MŸA will be at Komünite on September 30, as part of the ACT Night series, which was implemented by the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival in collaboration with ACT Music.
Anissa Nehari: Percussion, vocals Léo Jassef: Piano, keyboards, vocals Robinson Khoury: Trombone, vocals
VELVELE
September 30, 2026 //All Saints Fashion Church Merve Salgar and Anıl VELVELE, consisting of Eraslan, spontaneously brings together their own compositions and their favorite Ottoman-Turkish music works in their performance, without adhering to a predetermined order. The direction of this free form is determined by the texture of the sound and the improvisations shaped by the possibilities offered by the moment. Tanburi and improviser Merve Salgar, who lives in France, develops a unique musical language that expands traditional tanbur performance with a contemporary perspective through her joint projects with many musicians from the experimental and traditional music scenes. Cellist and improviser Anıl Eraslan, who produces between Berlin, Strasbourg and Istanbul, continues to work with ensembles and musicians from all over the world in a wide range of music, from traditional music to jazz and experimental music. VELVELE will be at All Saints Moda Church on September 30, as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Merve Salgar:Tanbur, vocalsAnıl Eraslan: Cello, vocals
Ben LaMar Gay is hard to define with his production that wanders around the boundaries of music, a distinctive composer and versatile sound researcher. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Gay grew up in the creative music tradition shaped around AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians); At a young age, he wandered around a wide stage network ranging from jazz to hip-hop, focusing on the cornet. The musician, who returned to Chicago in the early 2010s after living in Brazil for a while, attracted attention with his album Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun (2018), which is a reflection of the period he spent away from the spotlight; He subsequently developed an extensive composition practice with film scores and interdisciplinary projects. With his last album under the International Anthem label, Yowzers (2025), he took his multi-layered approach around the cosmopolitan blues concept to a new threshold. The musician, who will give his first Istanbul concert as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival, will be at Babylon on the evening of October 1.
Ben LaMar Gay: Cornet, vocals, synthEdhino Gerber: GuitarMatthew Davis: TubaTommaso Moretti:Drums
ACT Night: Jakob Manz Young European Stars feat. Shuteen Erdenebaatar, Nils Kugelmann, Jakob Bänsch, Leo Asal
October 1, 2026 // Komünite
ACT Music, which has been working to develop artistic concepts, contribute to the career journeys of musicians and create original live performance formats since 2017, is the guest of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival with a special meeting that brings together exciting talents from the new generation of jazz. At ACT Night, which will take place at Komünite on October 1, Young European Stars, led by Jakob Manz, one of Germany's most popular jazz musicians, with his melodic richness that extends uninterruptedly from composed themes to enthusiastic improvisations, will be on stage.Orchestra; It consists of Mongolian composer and pianist Shuteen Erdenebaatar, who brings his classical music knowledge to contemporary jazz, award-winning double bassist and composer Nils Kugelmann, young trumpeter Jakob Bänsch, whom the global music press compared to Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Leo Asal, who has a wide range of expression from jazz to hip-hop.
Jakob Manz:SaxophoneLeo Prime: DrumsJakob Bänsch: TrumpetNils Kugelmann: BassShuteen Erdenebaatar: Piano
Emin Fındıkoğlu +122 October 2026 // Saint Benoît French High School Silhouette Hall
The legend of the Turkish Jazz scene Emin Fındıkoğlu +12, the great jazz orchestra founded by pianist, composer, arranger and conductor Emin Fındıkoğlu in 2015, brings together experienced masters and young stars of jazz. The impressive ensemble, which performs original arrangements of carefully selected jazz pieces, takes the stage with its two soloists and a large staff of 15 musicians. Emin Fındıkoğlu +12, who has performed in many festivals and important concert halls in different cities since the day it was founded, was released in vinyl format in 2020. The second album will meet music lovers in 2026 within the framework of the 10 Masters 10 Albums project. Emin Fındıkoğlu +12, at the Saint Benoît French High School Silhouette Hall on the evening of October 2nd, as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Emin Fındıkoğlu: PianoŞenova Ülker:Trumpetİmer Demirer:TrumpetBarış Doğukan Yazıcı:TrumpetSavaş Şahin:TromboneGüneş Karaduman: TromboneHüseyin Çakır: TromboneÇağdaş Oruç: SaxophoneDuru Tuna: SaxophoneMeriç Demirkol: SaxophoneBarış Ertürk:SaxophoneEylül Güntekin:Double BassEkin Cengizkan:DrumsMelisa Kral: VocalsZeynep Kuyumcu: Vocals
James Carter Piano Quartet: Coltrane: A Centennial Supreme3 October 2026 // Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage
“'Music and life are not separate from each other; my elders taught me that music is a culture and a way of life.'” says Detroit saxophone virtuoso James Carter. The musician who grew up listening to Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald records and shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis at a young age; He is remembered as one of the most characteristic figures of his generation with his high-energy musical approach that moves between tenor, alto and soprano saxophones. James Carter, who has released many publications with labels such as Blue Note, EmArcy and Atlantic, will be a guest at the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival with a concert at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage on October 3, as part of his Coltrane: A Centennial Supremetour. Carter summarizes this special performance, which was realized in the spirit of celebrating the 100th anniversary of Coltrane's birth, as follows: "I think we should focus not only on Coltrane's huge musical legacy, but also on the spirit that created these works. The biggest goal of this group is to salute Coltrane's legacy and accompany his spirit through these performances."
James Carter:SaxophoneGerard Gibbs: PianoHilliard Greene:BassAlex White:Drums
Cochemea
October 3, 2026 // Salon İKSV
Cochemea has followed a unique path throughout his career of more than 25 years, as a solo musician, orchestra member and composer/arranger. His production practice, which extends from his long-term work with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings to his collaborations with names from different musical worlds such as Kevin Morby, Run The Jewels, Jon Batiste, Amy Winehouse, The Roots, Archie Shepp, Mark Ronson and Quincy Jones, draws attention with its diversity that moves easily between genres. Released on Daptone Records, Vol. His latest album, 3: Ancestros Futuros (2025), All My Relations (2019) and Vol. 2: It is the third part of the series that started with Baca Sewa (2021).While Cochemea intertwines the past, present and future in all its productions; he treats time as a speculative history that moves freely between memory and possibility. The musician, who will be the guest of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival, will be at Salon İKSV on October 3.
Elenna Belen Canlas:TuşlularNeil Ochoa:PercussionElizabeth Pupo-Walker:PercussionCochemea:Saxophone Sibel Köse “Jazz Bridge from the Vistula to the Bosphorus”October 4, 2026 // Akatlar Cultural CenterSibel Köse, who has established strong ties with Poland since the early 90s, brings together the important names of the Turkish and Polish jazz scenes in a special concert within the scope of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival. Pianist Bogdan Hołownia; He is known for his masterful performance, theory books and works dedicated to Polish composers. The musician, who is considered one of the most respected accompanists in the jazz world with the space he opens for soloists and sophisticated harmonies, will be accompanied by İmer Demirer with his deep and surprising interpretation. Wojciech Pulcyn, the backbone of the band whose friendship with Demirer goes back many years, is on double bass, and Cem Aksel, one of Turkey's most experienced rhythm masters, is on drums. The band's repertoire, which has previously come together in different projects, includes jazz standards as well as selected songs from Kabaret Starszych Panów, which Jerzy Wasowski and Jeremi Przybora prepared for Polish television between 1958 and 1966. This meeting will take place at Akatlar Cultural Center on Sunday, October 4, with the contributions of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Istanbul; It invites the audience to witness the unifying power of jazz across geographies by building a cultural bridge stretching from Warsaw to Istanbul.
Sibel Köse: VocalBogdan Hołownia:Pianoİmer Demirer:TrumpetWojciech Pulcyn:Double BassCem Aksel:DrumL’AntidoteOctober 4, 2026 // ARTER – Carbon
Can beauty save the world? This is exactly what brings Bijan Chemirani, Redi Hasa and Rami Khalifé together as L'Antidote: to create an instrumental repertoire of rare sophistication that reveals the healing power of music against today's poisons. Iranian percussion master Bijan Chemirani, who likes to wander in the waters ranging from jazz to Mediterranean music; He combines his knowledge of rhythm with Albanian cellist Redi Hasa, known for his contributions to the revival of traditional music in southern Italy. The other member of the trio, Lebanese pianist Rami Khalifé, masterfully blurs the boundaries between classical music and electronic music on the keys of his piano. Bijan Chemirani describes the trio's chemistry as "L'Antidote is an island where we can meet to play music that reflects us and brings us together beyond our individualities." He summarizes it with his words. L'Antidote will be on the ARTER stage as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival with the support of ARTER on the evening of October 4.
Bijan Chemirani:PercussionRedi Hasa: Cello Rami Khalife: Piano
ACT Night: Dhafer Youssef “SHIRAZ”7 October 2026 // Zorlu PSM – Turkcell Platinum Stage
Dhafer Youssef, who has turned into one of the most original musical figures of his time since his first musical education in the Sufi tradition in Tunisia; He is a name that has long transcended the boundaries between genres with his production that combines jazz, global music and spiritual pursuits in the same pot. Thanks to his music that combines Arabic musical tradition with contemporary approaches, he has worked with internationally respected musicians such as Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock and Eivind Aarset. Youssef's first album as a band leader, released by the ACT label, Shiraz (2025), offers an introspective journey shaped around love, gratitude, light and shadow. Dedicated to his wife Shiraz Fradi, the album reflects the strong bond between the couple and the life they lead together. In Shiraz, Youssef treats the oud with the sensitivity of a chamber music instrument; His hymn-like vocals and elegant falsetto transitions establish a subtle dialogue with trumpet, piano, bass, drums and Nguyên Lê's guitar and sound designs. Dhafer Youssef, 36.It will be at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage on October 7, as part of the ACT Night series, which was implemented in cooperation with Akbank Jazz Festival and ACT Music. Dhafer Youssef: Oud, vocalsDaniel Garcia: PianoMario Rom: TrumpetSwaeli Mbappé: Bass guitarTao Ehrlich:Drums Yazmin Lacey7 October 2026 // Babylon
The musical adventure of Yazmin Lacey, who transforms the intimate moments of her life into sincere and emotionally intense songs that everyone can find something from, is with her first EP Black Moon, which she released after participating in Gilles Peterson'sFuture Bubblers series. It started in 2017. After a series of short-format releases, he continued to convey immediate and unfiltered emotions into his music with the albums Voice Notes in 2023 and Teal Dreams in 2025. His music, inspired by his childhood in East London and his Caribbean roots, is too layered to easily fit into a single genre. The Nottingham-based musician, who continues his productions on the axis of R&B, jazz and pop, prefers to preserve the imperfections in his music rather than pursuing perfection. Throughout his musical career, Craigie Dodds, J.D. Lacey, who has worked with names such as Reid, Melo-Zed and Dave Okumu, will be at Babylon on October 7, as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival, with the support of the British Council.
Yazmin Lacey: VocalsCalum Duncan:GuitarPaul Runzo:BassSarah Tandy:KeysDornik Leigh: DrumsTamara Brissett: Backing vocalsRhyanne Woodbine:Backing vocals Arturo Sandoval8 October 2026 // Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage
Arturo Sandoval, as one of the figures who shaped the history of jazz, Afro-Cuban music, jazz and classical music. A versatile composer and performer who masterfully blends traditions. A student of legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval played a decisive role in the transformation of Cuban music with the band Irakere, of which he was one of the founding members. 10 Grammy award-winning musician; In addition to his trumpet and flugelhorn virtuosity, as a composer and arranger, he collaborated with a wide range of artists, from Stevie Wonder to Frank Sinatra, from Celia Cruz to Alicia Keys. He developed an interdisciplinary composition practice with the music he produced for trumpet concertos, concerts with symphonic orchestras, and cinema projects. Sandoval, described by London Evening Staras "a virtuoso of a kind that we encounter only once or twice in a generation", will be at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage on October 8, as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Arturo Sandoval: TrumpetLisandro Pidre: PianoWilliam Brahm: GuitarDaniel Feldman: DrumsMaximilian Gerl: BassMichael Tucker: SaxophoneSamuel Torres: PercussionKeith Fiala: TrumpetLarry Bustamante: Baritone sax Sasha BerlinerOctober 8, 2026 // Borusan Music House
Los Angeles-based Sasha Berliner is an award-winning vibraphonist and composer, described by JazzTimes as a “young malet master.” Berliner, who ranked first in the "Rising Star Vibraphonist" category in the DownBeat Critics Poll and was included in the 2024 Youngbloods selection of NPR Jazz Night in America; In his recent projects, he shared the stage with names such as Christian McBride, Tyshawn Sorey, Marcus Gilmore, The HR Big Band and Cécile McLorin Salvant. At the same time, he continues his productions with his own quintet, which continues its international tours. Sasha Berliner, who will perform at Borusan Music House on October 8 as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival, has recorded with many musicians and groups outside the jazz scene, including Juicy J, Flea and The Free Nationals.His solo discography includes three studio albums released between 2019-2025.
Sasha Berliner:VibraphoneRasmus Soerensen:Piano, keyboardsJamie Peet: Drums
Kassa Overall9 October 2026 // Babylon
Kassa Overall; He is a versatile musician who combines his identities as a drummer, MC, vocalist and producer in the same pot. With his productions that effortlessly combine jazz, hip-hop and avant-garde experiments, he creates a unique sound world that is both innovative and able to establish direct contact with the listener. Overall, which has released six critically acclaimed mixtapes and albums to date, joined the Warp Records family after its first two albums, Go Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz(2018) and I Think I'm Good(2020). His latest project, CREAM, released in 2025, is a tribute to hip-hop, the two passions of his youth, and jazz drumming, nourished by the Elvin Jones tradition. Described by Pitchfork as "one of the most daring futurists of modern jazz" in 2020, Kassa Overall has to date toured and recorded with names such as Vijay Iyer, Geri Allen, Arto Lindsay, Danny Brown and Jon Batiste. The Seattle-born musician will be at Babylon on October 9 as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Nicole ZuraitisOctober 10, 2026 // Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum StageComposer, pianist, arranger and band leader Nicole Zuraitis is one of the most productive and remarkable names of the genre to follow today with her approach that expands the boundaries of vocal jazz. Zuraitis, who won the Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy for his album How Love Begins (2023), which he created with Christian McBride, became the first musician to receive this award by writing and arranging the entire album himself. The projects he signed with drummer Dan Pugach, who will accompany him in the Istanbul concert, and his new arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene", "Little Fears", made him one of the most well-known names in the contemporary jazz scene. Continuing his activist side in parallel with his music, Zuraitis's 2025 concert album Live at Vic's, is a powerful record that reveals the potential of the musicians around him, especially through its arrangements. The New York musician will be at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage on October 10 as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Nicole Zuraitis:Piano, vocalsDan Pugach: DrumsIdan Morim:GuitarSam Weber: Bass
Yasmine HamdanOctober 10, 2026 // Zorlu PSM 100% Studio
Yasmine Hamdan, who has developed an original musical that richly blends Pan-Arab roots, pop, poetic lyrics, electronic music, soul and guitar-based melodies; He made his first big break on the music scene with Beirut's pioneering indie electro duo Soapkills, which he founded together with Zeid Hamdan in the late 1990s. After moving to Paris in 2005, he worked with Madonna's producer Mirwais and Y.A.S. project and released the album "Arabology" in 2009, which is as elegant as it is dance-floor-pleasing. Since then, he has continued his productions internationally as a songwriter, singer and producer. Hamdan, who has also established partnerships with directors such as Elia Suleiman and Jim Jarmusch to date, released his third studio album, I Remember I Forget (بنسى وبتذكر), in the autumn of 2025, which focuses on his ties with Lebanon and the country's experiences. Yasmine Hamdan will be at Zorlu PSM 100% Studio on the evening of October 10, with the collaboration of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival and Zorlu PSM for the first time.
Yasmine Hamdan:VocalsCedric Le Roux: GuitarCông Minh Phẩm:KeyboardRaphaël Seguinier:Drums
Samora Pinderhughes Quintet ft. Elena PinderhughesOctober 10, 2026 // Babylon
A composer, pianist, vocalist, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist, Samora Pinderhughes is known for combining strikingly honest lyrics constructed with sincerity and care, with high-level musicianship.As a collaborator who can focus on the big picture; In addition to the partnerships he established with Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins and Common under the umbrella of August Greene, he worked with names such as Burniss Travis, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah and his sister, flutist Elena Pinderhughes. Pinderhughes uses his music to touch upon social issues and struggle for transformation; He produces within the tradition of Black surrealism, which uses words, sounds and images in the African diaspora for these purposes. In addition to his activist and thinker stance, the musician is an advocate of an approach that prioritizes the process rather than the product; Elliott Skinner will be a guest at the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival with his quintet, including Joshua Crumbly and Jonathan Pinson, and his sister Elena Pinderhughes, with a concert at Babylon on October 10.
Samora Pinderhughes: Piano, vocalsElena Pinderhughes:FluteElliott Skinner: Guitar, vocalsJoshua Crumbly: BassJonathan Pinson: Drums Kinkajous (Live AV)October 11, 2026 // ARTER – Karbon
London-based outfit Kinkajous are known for their powerful, cinematic performances. Led by drummer/producer Benoît Parmentier and saxophonist Adrien Cau, the band has gradually refined its distinctive sonic world over the years, developing an expressive musical language designed for large stages that explores intimacy and maximalism in equal measure. Kinkajous, which is in constant transformation, promises an immersive sound and light-based AV performance experience, developed together with London-based multimedia artist Ke Peng (PK). This partnership had a sold-out premiere at the Southbank Center as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival last November. Kinkajous will be on the ARTER stage on October 11 as part of the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival.
Benoît Parmentier:DrumsAdrien Cau:SaxophoneJack Doherty:Keyboard, synthAndres Castellanos: BassKe Peng:Images Savina Yannatou & Primavera en Salonico with Lamia Bedioui11 October 2026 // Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage Savina Yannatou features Primavera en Salonico and Tunisian, with whom she has been producing for 32 years, in her fifth album Watersong, released by the ECM label. Accompanied by vocalist Lamia Bedioui, she embarks on a musical journey that explores the theme of water through songs. Songs sung in different languages; It touches upon traditions and myths about water that are shaped around life and death, desire and purification, fertility and magic. While Arabic and Bedouin dialects meet with different languages of the Mediterranean geography and songs from different historical periods intertwine, Primavera en Salonico creates its own unique sound world by combining traditional music with playful arrangements and free improvisation. Combining different musical traditions with a bold style, Savina Yannatou & Primavera en Salonico with Lamia Bedioui will be at Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage on October 11.
Savina Yannatou: VocalLamia Bedioui:Vocal
Primavera en Salonico:Kostas Vomvolos: Kanun, accordionHarris Lambrakis: NeyKyriakos Gouventas: ViolinMichalis Siganidis: Double BassDine Doneff: Percussion
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