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Ilhan
ERSAHIN
As a saxophonist and composer/songwriter, Ilhan Ersahin has
grown into one of the most creative and adventurous artists
of the contemporary jazz and electronic scene in the last
ten years. Influenced primarily by American jazz, Ersahin
has also absorbed the essence of reggae, hip-hop, electronic,
pop and middle eastern folk music. The profound impact
of these diverse influences is clearly evident in his
musical expressions and on his various albums and projects.
Born to a Swedish mother and a Turkish father, Ilhan Ersahin
was raised in Stockholm while spending summers in Turkey.
He was 16 when he began playing the saxophone. In 1987,
he came to the US to attend the prestigious Berklee School
of Music and after completing his degree he moved to New
York in 1989. Since then he has worked in bands lead by
Lawrence ''Butch'' Morris, drummer Victor Lewis, and trumpeter
Wallace Roney, among many others.
Ersahin
released several albums where he tackled a wide range
of his influences from post-bop (Home) to acoustic jazz
(Virgo), to spoken word laced with DJ and electronics
(Wax Poetic) where he explores the boundaries of his jazz
influences.
Ilhan Ersahin has played at many festivals in Turkey (including
Istanbul and Akbank Jazz Festival, Fuji film World Music
Days etc.) and at venues such as CRR, Roxy, and what has
become his second home, Babylon. He toured in Europe,
the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the United States.
In New York, where he’s been residing for over 12 years,
he has played at the Bowery Ballroom, Knitting factory,
Joe’s Pub, Sweet Basil, Tonic, Makor, Galapagos (Brooklyn),
and PNC Bank Center (NJ).
Upcoming projects include the simultaneous release of four
recordings in Turkey in October: Two downtempo/electronic
compilations called “X-ist”, a collaborative effort with
Husnu Senlendirici on “Harikalar Diyari” (Wonderland)
and the jazzy/house beats of Love Trio. He recently set
up his own production house/label called Nublu and opened
Nublu bar/cafe/performance space in the East Village in
New York.
QUOTES
“Ersahin
has that tough, dry tone that Coltrane developed , but
fortunately doesn't use it to copy the latter's style.”
- Cadence
“Ersahin's
effort is a breath of fresh air from the polluted blowing
dates that now typify many of his generation.”
-
Jazztimes
“Sounding well
beyond his years , the Stockholm-born, Turkish-raised
tenor saxophonist presents a balanced mix of post-bop
swingers with ballads and a few fun.”
- DownBeat
“Subtle
but full of substance, Wax Poetic juxtaposes jazzy music
against sputtering, in-your-face performance poetry.”
- Sunday Sun-Times, Chicago
“The
brainchild of saxophonist Ilhan Ersahin, [Wax Poetic]
is an ever-evolving jam session bringing jazz and world
musicians together with DJ grooves and hip hop beats.”
- Weekly Dig, Boston
“Wax
Poetic's self-titled debut is highly successful due to
the artists involved with this project being able to fuse
their many different talents into a cohesive sound.”
- Vibe
DISCOGRAPHY
“She Said”
(1995 Doublemoon) released only in Turkey. Reissued
later as “Our Song" (1997 Golden Horn Records)
in the US.
"Home"
(1997 Doublemoon/Golden Horn Records)
"Wax
Poetic" (1999 Doublemoon/Atlantic Records)
“Virgo"
(2000 Doublemoon Records) released only in Turkey
LINKS
Light
Millennium Interview with Ilhan Ersahin (in Turkish)
www.ilhanersahin.com
www.waxpoetic.net
www.nublu.net (coming
soon)
www.pozitif-ist.com
Upcoming event: Ilhan Ersahin will perfom his new music
"Love Trio"
For
The Light Millennium - On
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
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