My friend Mr Dore Stein, host of the Tangentsradio show on station KALW (91.7 FM), San Francisco, California, leads a music tour like no other to Turkey.
The 2013 Tangents Turkey Music Tours have been announced. As of mid-January 2013, the May 5-21 tour, limited to 17 participants, is nearly sold out, and the October 6-22 Tangents Turkey Music Tour is now enrolling. Contact Tangents for news of the October 2013 tour.
(Flying from North America, you should depart at least one day before the tour starting date in order to reach Istanbul for the start of the tour.)
In keeping with his “Tangents“ radio show philosophy of offering “genre-bending radio that explores the bridges connecting diverse musical styles including world and roots music, and creative jazz hybrids,” Dore identifies a wish-list of artists from the most interesting corners of the Turkish and international music scene and is remarkably successful at booking them for his tour.
There are 10 concerts in 17 nights, including a special concert in a 2000-year-old cave church in Cappadocia.
Although many participants come from the San Francisco Bay area, the tour is open to all interested travelers from anywhere in the world. British and European travelers can benefit from less expensive flights to Turkey.
Itinerary at a Glance
Dore (DOH-ree) Stein writes: “We travel like locals when in the heart of Istanbul. We experience crammed trams, the joy of eating in neighborhood restaurants, and exhilarating nightlife. We soak up the aroma of Istanbul through full cultural immersion. Evenings in Istanbul feature live performances from the cream of the Turkish music scene that reflect its rich diversity.
Much of the music itinerary is nailed down one to two months prior to departure.
Likely participants include:
Okay Temiz – legendary Turkish jazz drummer, percussionist, and instrument inventor who pioneered creative world jazz fusions withDon Cherry. Plans are for the group to visit Okay’s studio where he conducts a fascinating clinic on all instruments imaginable.
Cenk Erdoğan – rising jazz star who plays fretless guitar
Sumru Ağıryürüyen – one of Turkey’s most versatile and talented vocalists.
In addition to nightly concerts, activities include visits to musical instrument shops in the Tünel neighborhood of Beyoğlu, and to the home of Istanbul’s foremost traditional instrument builder. His home is an instrument museum!
The Tangents tour also visits a complex where the entire Turkish record industry is located – and CDs are sold wholesale.
The tour takes you on a Bosphorus cruise, and an unusual tour of the historic Genoese neighborhood, as well as unmissable sights such as Aya Sofya and Topkapı Palace, including its unforgettable Harem.
Other traditional arts aren’t neglected: you’ll see famous Turkish tiles in the Harem, and also in the exquisite Rüstem Paşa Mosque.
The Tangents tour flies to Cappadocia, visiting Kaymaklı Underground City, the gorgeous Ihlara Valley, and Göreme Open-Air Museum.
The 2012 tour adds the ancient eastern town of Mardin and the Kurdish cultural center Diyarbakır to the itinerary.
Mardin is perched on a mountain cliff and its stone architecture is stunning. The old town area has one narrow street and is surrounded by little alleyways reminiscent of Old Jerusalem.
In Diyarbakır‘s old town the Tangents group will witness the dying oral tradition of dengbejat the Dengbej Evi. It is singing like no other.
Travelling west to the pretty Aegean hill village of Şirince, there is a guided tour of the remarkably well preserved ancient city of Ephesus. We’ll also swim in the Aegean at stunning Dilek National Park, visit the calcium travertine wonders of Pamukkale and the extensive ruins of Hierapolis before flying back to Istanbul.
For more information read the Turkey page at tangents.com especially the Overview, Fine Print and Testimonial links.
The Tangents Turkey Music Tour was profiledin Istanbul’s most prominent newspaper, theHurriyet Daily News.
Also Istanbul’s top entertainment guide,Timeout Istanbul, did an in-depth interview.
Tangents Turkey Music Tour leader Dore Stein states: “Professionals in the music and travel industries tell me the Tangents Turkey Music Tour is one-of-a-kind. There is simply no other tour that organizes concerts with Turkish artists for Westerners. I am proud and honored to be able to produce this.”
When you contact Dore, please mention TTP. Here’s why.
Dore Stein
Tangents Radio/Turkey Music Tours
301 Gambier St.
San Francisco CA 94134-1341 USA
www.tangents.com
tangentsturkeytour@gmail.com
Tel: +1 415 584 4367
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