ISTANBUL

Nardis

The longest-running jazz club in Turkey is Nardis, close to the Galata Tower. Opened in 2002 by guitarist and jazz mentor Önder Focan and his wife Zuhal, who runs Jazz Dergisi (‘Jazz Magazine’), it hosts over 300 Turkish and foreign musicians every year. Concerts – of which there have been 6000 so far – are held every night except Sunday.

Nardis Jazz Club (Nardis Caz Klübü), Bereketzade Mah., Galata Kulesi Sok. No 8, Kuledibi, Beyoğlu, 34421 Istanbul

https://www.nardisjazz.com

+90 212 244 6327 – +90 532 244 5778

BOVA

Although a comparative newcomer to the scene, Bova regularly hosts some of Turkey’s finest jazz musicians, being especially strong on modern and improvised jazz. Located in Mis Sokak, off İstiklal Caddesi, it has a small performance space that makes advance booking definitely de rigueur. Their programme is available only on Instagram.

Bova Jazz Club (Bova Caz Klübü), Şehit Muhtar Mah., Mis Sok. No 17, Beyoğlu, 34435 Istanbul

Instagram: @bova_sahne

+90 212 243 44 61

OTHER VENUES IN ISTANBUL

These are mostly venues that host concerts of other kinds of music such as classical, blues and ‘light’ music as well as jazz. Pera 77 is a new venue located in a hotel.

Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall

The Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (Cemal Reşit Rey Konser Salonu or ‘CRR’) was named after the composer Cemal Reşit Rey, one of the first Turks to write music in the Western mould. It has a seating capacity of 860. The CRR usually hosts concerts of Western classical, Turkish and ‘light’ music, but sometimes puts on excellent jazz performances.  

Cemal Reşit Rey Konser Salonu or ‘CRR’, Dar’ül Bedayi Cad. No 6, Harbiye, 34371 Istanbul

https://crrkonsersalonu.ibb.istanbul/Home/Events?CRRLang=en-US

+90 212 312 6325

Zorlu Center

The Zorlu Center, a massive shopping mall in the Zincirlikuyu district (on the road to Levent and Maslak), contains two concert halls as well as a jazz club by the name of ‘Touché by N Kolay’, all located within its ‘PSM’ – Performans Sanatları Merkezi or ‘Performance Arts Center’. Jazz concerts usually take place in ‘Touché by N Kolay’.

Zorlu Centre Performing Arts Centre (Zorlu Center Performans Sanatlar Merkezi or ‘PSM’), Levazım Mah., Vadi Cad. No 2,

Zincirlikuyu, Beşiktaş, Istanbul

https://www.zorlupsm.com/en/events

+90 850 222 67 76

Pera 77 Jazz and Blues Club

This venue is located on the ground floor of the Marmara Pera Hotel in Tepebaşı (the part of the Asmalı Mescit quarter that overlooks the Golden Horn). No information about the programme is available on their website – everything seems to be on Instagram, like Bova. Sibel Köse says she’s sung there, but that’s all I know about the place.

Pera 77 Jazz & Blues Club (perayetmisyedi), The Marmara Pera Hotel, Asmalı Mescit Mah., Meşrutiyet Cad. No 15, Beyoğlu, 34430 İstanbul.

https://www.themarmarahotels.com/tr/pera/restoranlar/pera77

https://www.instagram.com/perayetmisyedi/

+90 534 576 99 94

Yeldeğirmeni Sanat (Yeldeğirmeni Arts Centre)

Rasimpaşa Mah., İskele Sok. No 43/1, Kadıköy, 34716 Istanbul

kultursanat.kadikoy.bel.tr/tr/kadikoyde-kultur-sanat

+90 216 337 00 58

The Yeldeğirmeni Arts Centre is located in a former church in Kadıköy. The Notre Dame du Rosaire French Church was part of a complex, built in 1895, that also included a monastery and a school. The monastery and the church burned down in 1911. The Arts Centre opened in the church in 2014, following restoration.

ANKARA

Ahzuita Café & Music Shop

Çankaya Mah., Üsküp Cad. No 8/C, Çankaya, 06690 Ankara

https://www.ahzuita.biz

+90 505 670 86 17

Last Penny Büklüm Sahnesi (‘Büklüm Theatre’)

Büklüm Cad. No 41/A, Kavaklıdere, Çankaya, 06660 Ankara

https://biletino.com/tr/u-58ox/last-penny/

+90 312 926 07 21

Samm’s Bistro

Hotel Samm, Kazım Özalp Mah., Uğur Mumcu Cad. No 19, Çankaya, 06700 Ankara

Tel: +90 312 447 90 00

https://hotelsamm.com/tr/bistro/

Jazz concerts on Friday nights.

Readers are invited to contribute their personal recommendations. Please write to diary@cornucopia.net