The Other Side

Born in Sweden from a Turkish family, saxophonist Ilhan Ersahin works hard creating and promoting new sounds and events in his multi-stranded Nublu project: two clubs (in Istanbul and New York), a label, and a roster of groups such as Istanbul Sessions and Wax Poetic that attracted wide attention worldwide. His most recent effort is The Other Side, with many of his regular accomplices including Hüsnü Şenlendirici and Aytaç Doğan of Taksim Trio fame and the powerful rhythm section of jazz bassist Ozan Musluoğlu and master percussionists Arto Tunçboyaciyan and Izzet Kizil.

The album's title refers to an Asian sector of the city of Istanbul, but its meaning here includes several other other sides, especially the all-important Gypsy tradition in Turkish music. The album focuses on the sounds of clarinet and kanun(zither), while the keyboards are limited to the vintage tinkling of Ersahin's own Wurlitzer electric piano. Prestigious guests such as Gilberto Gil and Jane Birkin come and go but the most memorable tracks remain those with Turkish soloists, especially violinist Adnan Karaduman with his vocalised sound.