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konstruKt: Turkish Free Music
Louis Armstrong
trumpet and vocals1901 - 1971
Ornette Coleman
saxophone, alto1930 - 2015
Cecil Taylor
piano1929 - 2018
Anthony Braxton
woodwindsb.1945
Peter Brötzmann
woodwinds1941 - 2023
Derek Bailey
guitar1932 - 2005
In this 21st century, some of the most exciting developments in free jazz are happening in the most unlikely places. Lebanon's scene with Mazen Kerbaj and Sharif Sehnaoui have been documented by the Al Maslakh Records and the new superheroes of improvisation, the Turkish band Konstrukt are at the center of a breeding ground for new music. The quartet of guitarist Umut ?a?lar, saxophonist Korhan Futaci, drummer Korhan Argüden and percussionist ?zün Usta have recorded several noteworthy discs, including Dolunay (Re:Konstrukt, 2011) and Eklisia Sunday (Not Two, 2013) with Peter Brotzmann, Vibrations Of The Day (Re:Konstrukt, 2011) with
Marshall Allen
saxophone, altob.1924
Evan Parker
saxophone, sopranob.1944
With the 3 LP release of Turkish Free Jazz (and also a limited edition of a 4th LP box set that was immediately sold out) they have established themselves as the darlings of the free jazz underground. Like the treasured Free Music Production (FMP) LPs of 1970s and 80s, these LPs are a portal into new sounds and reinvigorating ideas.
The first LP, Konstrukt is limited strictly to the quartet. The music is spacey, with the opener "Bulut" echoing shades of
Sun Ra
piano1914 - 1993
Gato Barbieri
saxophone1934 - 2016
Don Cherry
trumpet1936 - 1995
The Trio LP included finds three legends of "old" Turkish free jazz, Okay Temiz, Hüseyin Ertun?, and Do?an Do?usel uniting for a piano/bass/drums session that explodes with ideas. The analogous trio to these players might be the
Alexander von Schlippenbach
pianob.1938
Fred Van Hove
accordionThe crowning piece of this collection is the 13-piece Etnik Orkestra LP Live In Istanbul, with Konstrukt, Okay Temiz, and Hüseyin Ertun?. The music begins within the folk traditions of Turkey and then blossoms into an amalgam of free jazz somewhere on the continuum between The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Sun Ra's Arkestra. The cavalcade of sounds include buzzing horns, whistles, flutes, and a percussion parade. The groove is so strong, it is easy to forget this is free jazz. ">
Track Listing
(LP1) Konstrukt (Side A) Bulut, Ates, El Gato (for Gato Barbieri); (Side B) Toprak. (LP2) The Trio (Side A) Studio Part 1 & 2; (Side B) Studio Part 1 & 2. (LP3) Live In Istanbul: (Side A) Part I; (Side B) Part II (rind).
Personnel
Konstrukt
various(LP1) Konstrukt: Korhan Futaci: tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Umat ?a?lar: moog, vermona guitar, electric guitar; ?zün Usta: djembe, electric bass, flute, cura; Korhan Argüden: drums, old K Zildjian cymbals. (LP2) The Trio: Okay Temiz: drums, flutes, triangle, harp, waterphone, kalimbas; Hüseyin Ertun?: piano, flutes, küstüfons, kalimba; Do?an Do?usel: double bass, küstüfons; Daniel Spicer: percussion (A2) & Umut ?a?lar: kalimba (A2). LP3 Live In Istanbul: Okay Temiz: kalimba, percussion, flutes, soprano saxophone, horn; Hüseyin Ertun?: küstüfons, flutes; Do?usel: küstüfons, flutes; Musa Dede: percussion, hand drum, flutes; Sarp Keskiner: percussion, hand drum, flutes; ?zün Usta: cura, hand drum, overtone flute; Korhan Futaci: flute, alto saxophone; Umat ?a?lar: violin, flute, bendir; Murat Taner: zurna; Barlas Tan ?zemek: acoustic guitar; Selim Sara?oglu: acoustic guitar; Daniel Spicer: bamboo saxophone, trumpet, bendir; Berke Can ?zcan: drums, percussion.
Album information
Title: Turkish Free Music | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Sagittarius A-Star Records
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