Program announced for the 29th İstanbul Jazz Festival

* The poster of the festival prepared by comic book artist, cartoonist and illustrator M.K. Perker.

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Organized by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the 29th İstanbul Jazz Festival will begin on June 25, 2022.

The festival will continue for 13 days and end on July 7; over 200 artists from Turkey and abroad will perform as part of the festival.

Among the musicians to give a concert at the festival are Dianne Reeves, who has won five Grammy awards, Melody Gardot, John McLaughlin, who introduced jazz and rock guitar playing to three different generations, Enrico Pieranunz, Teoman, who is one of Turkey's leading rock musicians, Kalben, clarinet master Yom, rock band Boom Pam and Kutiman.

Click for the festival program

Gender equality in music

Istanbul Jazz Festival keeps chasing its goals towards gender equality set by the Keychange Programme that monitors gender equality in the music industry. Pledging for a gender balance of at least 50 percent in music festivals until 2022, Keychange Programme is a pioneering international music initiative based in the United Kingdom (UK).

Currently over 500 festivals are members of the Keychange programme including the Istanbul Jazz Festival since 2019, and others from Turkey.

Jazz Concerts at Parks

As is the case every year, Jazz Concerts at Parks will take place at the parks of various districts across İstanbul. Festival audiences from all age groups are invited to these concerts that will be free of charge.

The meeting point of the festival with children is the event of "A Childlike Day", which will be held for the fourth time this year. Having set off with the name "Young Jazz" 20 years ago, the project will continue supporting creative young musicians with "Young Jazz+" in its 20th year.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award of the 29th İstanbul Jazz Festival will be granted to jazz musician Hayati Kafe.

Starting his music career by playing the accordion and piano, Kafe became the vocalist of the Nejat Cendeli Orchestra in 1960. He also presented jazz programs on the İstanbul Radio.

With "Segratemente", his first record, he entered the "Top 10" in Turkey in 1961. Having decided to move to Sweden after going there in 1962 for three months, he became a vocalist in well-known saxophone player and jazz musician Carl-Henrik Norin's Orchestra. He still gives concerts with Swedish stars Monica Dominique and Jan Lundgren and lives in Stockholm.

The advance ticket sales of the jazz festival will begin on March 21 for the members of the İKSV Lale Kart (Tulip Card) members. They will be available for general sale starting from March 25. (AÖ/SD)