Birsen Tezer is one of the most recognized voices of the Turkish jazz scene. She is known for her soft voice that touches the souls of many, including me. She blends the classic sound of jazz with Turkish music essentials like irregular rhythms and folk instruments. She also knows how to play the “kanun”, which is a traditional Turkish string instrument.
In the song, İstanbul, she talks about my beautiful city. Ferries, seagulls, the Bosphorus and the sound of prayers. It can immediately take me to a ferry, crossing the Bosphorus. The song has the irregular 5/8 rhythm, supported with local percussion instruments. The irregular rhythm is also the representation of the crowded and spontaneous lives of the people who live in İstanbul. It successfully captures the soul of the city with all the song’s elements including the lyrics, the instruments and the rhythm.
You can learn more about Birsen Tezer here:
About the curator - Ada Bayramoglu
Ada is a high schooler from İstanbul who cannot be seen without her headphones. She is a “support your local” kind of girl who knows all the best places to drink coffee in her hometown. Her subconscious is full of “Turkish Classical Music”, which she has been listening to since she was born. She likes everlasting conversations with her friends about music and art. If you don’t know where she is just look at the nearest concert hall and she’ll be there.
