Antalya Akra Jazz Festival continues to bring together the renowned figures of jazz music and art lovers in Antalya. Getting ready to welcome the audience with a wide and colorful musical range that blends jazz with funk, rock, Latin, soul and electronic genres as well as modern and classical jazz, the festival will be held for the fifth time in Antalya this year.
The artists and bands who will perform at the festival stage this year include Igor Butman, Fantine, Imany, Akra Jazz Band, Kokoroko, Deli Bakkal, China Moses, Önder Focan Group, Antonio Lizana Flamenco Ensemble, Neşet Ruacan Quartet, August, Kick The Switch, Afroloji, Onat Murat Trio, Mark Eliyahu, Esra Kayıkçı Band, Fazıl Say, Bülent Evcil and Yekta Kopan.
Being held by Akra Hotels under the airline sponsorship of Turkish Airlines, the festival will take place on June 03-18, 2022 on the open-air stage of Akra Hotels, accompanied by the unique view of Mediterranean and Bey Mountains. Single and combined tickets, including all the festival concerts, can be purchased from the box offices of Biletix in Turkey and abroad, and via biletix.com, at TL 250 and TL 1.000, respectively.
World-renowned saxophonist Igor Butman, one of the regular guests of the festival, will perform at the opening concert along with the Moscow Jazz Orchestra on June 3, and will be accompanied by the singer Fantine and her new repertoire.
Imany, the diva of French soul music who delivers a combination of different moods to her listeners through her deep voice, soul and folk- and blues-inspired compositions, will also perform at the festival on June 04 with her new album “Voodoo Cello” that consists of cover songs. Akra Jazz Band, formed by musicians from Antalya, will be on stage just before Imany’s performance.
Creating a fusion of Afrobeat and jazz and bridging their African roots with London inspiration, Kokoroko, featuring unique musicians, will perform on June 08. Including modern music and nostalgic inspirations in their jazz, funk and fusion-oriented songs, “Deli Bakkal” will perform before Kokoroko.
China Moses, the talented soul singer, is one of the guests of the festival. Having released her first single “Time” when she was only 16 and attracted a great deal of attention with her legendary jazz and blues songs, China Moses will meet with the audience on June 10. Önder Focan, the guitarist and master of jazz music, will be on stage with his band before China Moses.
Combining the saxophone and flamenco vocals and succeeded in building an extraordinary bridge between jazz and flamenco, Antonio Lizana will be performing with Flamenco Ensemble on June 11, featuring flamenco dancers and singers. Neşet Ruacan, one of the renowned Turkish jazz musicians, will be on stage with his quartet before Antonio Lizana.
Akra Jazz Festival gives a new impulse to the festival to support young musicians and bands. Young musicians will meet with the Antalya audience at the “Akra Young Jazz” concerts. Bands participating and performing at Genç Caz+ (Young Jazz+) contest being held as a part of İstanbul Jazz Festival in cooperation with IKSV and a band from Antalya will be invited to perform. Akra Young Jazz concerts will be held traditionally every year. This year, August, Kick The Switch, Afroloji and Onat Murat Trio will perform at the “Akra Young Jazz” night on June 14.
Kamancha master Mark Eliyahu delivers deep melodies with a dynamic performance and standing out with his music that makes you feel the spirit, sorrow and joy of an East and West fusion with the harmony of percussions and strings, will perform on June 16. Esra Kayıkçı Band will be on stage before Mark Eliyahu.
The festival will end with two concerts by world-renowned pianist and composer Fazıl Say on June 17-18. Fazıl Say will be accompanied by renowned flutist Bülent Evcil. The world premiere of Say’s new project “Portreler” will also take place which he has composed for the masters such as Fikret Otyam, Ahmet Say, Yaşar Kemal, Yıldız Kenter, Türkan Saylan, Nejat Eczacıbaşı, Şarık Tara and Tarık Akan, who have all left deep impressions in their own fields. Yekta Kopan is also going to be on stage presenting the details about the works to be performed.
