Swing A La Turc

Jazz is a means of expression just like any form of art and in this context of subjectivity should not be taken as a limited repertoire of “standards”. Its domain can include any source, be it compositions or unrelated genres being interpreted in the jazz style of expression. In fact, you’d be surprised how many jazz standards have their origins in popular compositions.
In the past we interpreted Turkish compositions within the discipline of jazz. When we did this our principal approach has been improvisation of form and harmony within the discipline of jazz while maintaining loyalty to the basic local melodies. We take the same route in the “Swing a la Turc” project, the only difference being the inclusion of “ney”, an instrument of Turkish music.
Many of the project’s participants are performers of Turkish music. Compositions which do not have their origins in Turkish music –such as “Lal”, “Karlı Kayın Ormanı” and “Sen” – are acclaimed, much liked and widely enjoyed traditional Turkish tunes.