Organised by Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and sponsored by Garanti
BBVA, the Istanbul Jazz Festival will once again showcase the multifacetedness of Istanbul through music from 3 to 18 July 2024. The festival will host more than 200 local and international artists in close to 40 concerts in 16 days, including Gregory Porter, Chris Isaak, Joshua Redman, YolanDa Brown, Arlo Parks, Baptiste Trotignon, and Modern Art Orchestra feat. Kornél Fekete-Kovács.
Jazz infiltrates the city once again
The most stunning venues of Istanbul are poised to unite artists and audiences. Esma Sultan Mansion, Sultan Park – Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Rahmi M. Koç Museum, Palais de France, and Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre await those seeking to immerse themselves in the vibrant festival scene.
The festival promises a variety of experiences as always. Once more, the Jazz Boat sets sail for a day of musical bliss along the Bosphorus. Certainly, those in search of an unforgettable fusion of city charm and musical talent will be enchanted by the opportunity to experience the festival in Beyoğlu with A Jazz Night in Pera event. Jazz melodies will resound through the Golden Horn at Salon İKSV, Minoa Pera, and Pera 77. For those keen to embrace local culture, the festival offers a lively night out at Kadıköy’s venues Dorock XL, Moda Sahnesi, Kadıköy Cinema, Kadıköy Sahne and The Wall.
The stars of the festival
Gregory Porter
Monday, 8 July
The lyrics he wrote and abandoned in a drawer eventually took him to the world’s most prestigious stages. His distinct style that mixes country, gospel and blues along with jazz, R&B and funk is often cited to have revived jazz. Called “worryingly rare breed” by BBC, Gregory Porter will once again play to sell-out crowds, this time in Istanbul at Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre.
Chris Isaak
Friday, 12 July
His heartbroken and serene music, and the film noir-like atmosphere he evokes earned him a pedestal all his own in the history of rock and roll. This year, Chris Isaak is set to give his first Türkiye concert as a part of the 31st Istanbul Jazz Festival at Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre. The event is supported by Garanti BBVA.
Joshua Redman Group feat. Gabrielle Cavassa
Tuesday, 16 July
Joshua Redman, one of the greatest saxophonists alive today with his timeless and innovative music, will take the stage along with his recent collaborators, vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Nazir Ebo at The Marmara Esma Sultan Mansion, a venue with one of the most impressive views in Istanbul. The event is supported by SNOC.
YolanDa Brown
Wednesday, 10 July
The festival audience will be meeting on the terrace of Swissôtel The Bosphorus overlooking the Bosphorus Strait to listen to the energetic, improvisational, and free-spirited music of the British-Jamaican jazz icon YolanDa Brown. The event is supported by Clifford Chance and Ciftci Attorney Partnership.
Arlo Parks
Tuesday, 9 July
Arlo Parks is a passionate poet and an excellent storyteller. Hazy photographs, journeys to uncertain destinations gain a whole different meaning when partnered with her songs. This summer, she is set to meet her audiences in Türkiye for the first time for a night of musical bliss at Sultan Park – Swissôtel The Bosphorus.
Baptiste Trotignon / Nilüfer Verdi Trio
Friday, 5 July
Musical genius Baptiste Trotignon and Türkiye’s first female jazz pianist Nilüfer Verdi share the stage on the same night with their boundary-breaking music and astonishing performances at the garden of Palais de France. The event is supported by Mastercard.
Modern Art Orchestra feat. Kornél Fekete-Kovács // Kaan Çelen Trio
Thursday, 4 July
One of Europe’s established orchestras, Modern Art Orchestra, presents an exciting programme from the contemporary music repertoire at the 31st Istanbul Jazz Festival. Before MAO the rising star of jazz drums, Kaan Çelen, will be on the stage.
Adding a festive atmosphere to a radiant Kadıköy night: Night Out with +1
In the traditional Night Out with +1 event of the Istanbul Jazz Festival, the audience will once again stroll in the warmth of a Kadıköy evening, stretching into the cool of the night step by step in pursuit of good music. A myriad of thoughts and emotions, a wide range of music, and unique performances await on the night of Thursday, 18 July at the stops Dorock XL, Moda Sahnesi, Kadıköy Cinema, Kadıköy Stage, and The Wall. Performing on the most vibrant night of the festival are; Baby’s Berserk, Thomas Azier, Gevende, Korhan Futacı, Coşku Turhan Trio, Eve Dönüş Yok, Yangın, Min Taka and Brek.
The Jazz Boat: A jazz event unique to Istanbul
The sound of the ferry whistle, the cry of seagulls, the unique view of the Peninsula… In this indispensable event of the Istanbul Jazz Festival, each section of the ferry transforms into a different stage, offering the audience jazz, dance, and excitement. The cheerful music of the Istanbul swing ensemble Brassist will welcome the audience at Kabataş Pier. Throughout the tour, attendees will listen to early examples of jazz in the dramatic styles of Ragtime ve Dixieland with Karambola, accompany the irresistible rhythms of the Russian jazz group The Big Rhythm and dance with DJ performances. This year, the Jazz Boat will anchor from Kabataş Pier on Sunday, 14 July.
Jazz in the Parks
One of the most enjoyable events of the Istanbul Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Parks once again invites all music lovers to the parks. Successful music bands from Türkiye and the world will take the stage in concerts spread across different corners of the city, transforming the parks into festival grounds for a day. Hungarian band Duckshell and the festival’s Young Jazz Musicians of 2024 will meet the audience on Saturday, 6 July at Beylikdüzü Valley of Life. The detailed programme of Jazz in the Parks events will be announced in April.
A Jazz-filled evening at Pera, the age-old heart of Istanbul
On the Golden Horn facing side of Istiklal Avenue, jazz melodies will rise simultaneously from three Pera venues, blending into the enchanting atmosphere of Istanbul. Minoa Pera, in the historical Union Française building designed by the architect Alexandre Vallaury; Pera 77, the budding venue of the Istanbul jazz scene, and Salon İKSV, the address of good music in the city, will be hosting three different artists on the same night. Kristjan Randalu Absence Trio, Can Çankaya Trio and Dilek Sert Erdoğan are among the guests of the A Jazz Night in Pera on Wednesday, 17 July.
Tickets
Festival tickets can be purchased through the festival’s official ticket provider Passo (passo.com.tr) or at the İKSV box office.
Priority ticket sales for Tulip Card members: 29 February – 4 March
General sale: Tuesday, 5 March 10.30
Tickets can be purchased with a 10% discount to all Garanti BBVA credit cards as of 5 March.
As part of the Eczacıbaşı Youth Ticket project, student ticket prices will be 20 TL.
