Based on well-known anonymous folk songs from the Turkish Black-Sea region, this album from ‘98 is one of the best Turkish folk & jazz fusion albums i’ve ever had the pleasure to check out.

The album is successful not only for being a very well executed and nicely interpreted jazz album but also for not missing the spirit amidst clean-cut-musicianship (which i consider as a common problem with this kind of jazzy Turkish folk albums). It’s an “oriental” album, not an “orientalist” one and I thought they’ve captured the authentic aroma of the Black-Sea culture and the sentimental ups and downs of its people perfectly. Huge credit on this issue goes to the vocal talent of Senem Diyici of course. She’s a great catch if you like simple yet smoothly effective ethnic vocals. The quartet consists of Senem Diyici (vocal, percussion), Alain Blesing (guitar, cura), Philippe Botta (saxophones, flutes) and Ravy Magnifique (tablas, percussion).

I’m especially fond of the rather sensual viola-heavy interpretation of `Arzu Gizim` a popular Azeri/Turkish song composed by Ali Ekber Tagiyev (which keeps reminding me of the movie Tous les matins du monde) and Abe Lalo, a fast & stomping anonymous song from Anatolia. Thanks to our friend Gokhan Ince for bringing this one to our attention.

mersenne’s note : I’ve added a link to the original `Arzu Gizim` by Azeri singer Zeyneb Xanlarova so you can make comparisons, also another version of “Cay Elinden”, another anonymous Trabizon song by legendary fusion drummer Okay Temiz from 1979, enjoy!.

Senem Diyici Quartet live on Youtube

Senem Diyici Quartet – Abe Lalo
Senem Diyici Quartet – Arzu Kizim
Senem Diyici Quartet – Cay Elinden
Okay Temiz – Cay Elinden
Zeyneb Xanlarova – Arzu Qizim (on youtube)