There was great interest in the concert of the CRR Jazz Orchestra, which took place on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall. It was announced that the Italian singer Emilia Zamuner and our opera singer bass baritone Burak Bilgili as the soloist are taking place at the concert. First of all, I want to draw your attention to the statements on Zamuner: “Focusing on transforming the tradition into a jazz language, Emilia Zamuner inspired from Gustav Mahler’s ‘Tradition is not worshipping the ashes, it is protecting the fire’. The vocalist is seeing her music as an inter-cultural research and does not prefer a language over another. Thus, shifting between bossa nova, standard jazz, traditional Italian songs and electronic music.
Because of her condition, Emilia Zamuner couldn’t take the stage in this concert. Instead, one of the most prominent jazz vocalists of Turkey, Randy Esen did. In another concert we would like to see Zamuner as well, but the fact that Randy Esen was going to take the stage excited me a lot. It was my first time hearing her live. It was a true feast for jazz lovers. The number of our vocalists who sing with such command of their voices, with such comfort and sincerity is limited. It takes great effort to reach that level.
The concert began with CRR Jazz Orchestra, lead by Nail Yavuzoğlu Fırtına Kıral on drums, Kaan Bıyıkoğlu on piano.
Randy Esen & Burak Bilgili & CRR Caz Orkestrası (Photo: Beran Paçacı)
The concert began with CRR Jazz Orchestra, lead by Nail Yavuzoğlu Fırtına Kıral on drums, Kaan Bıyıkoğlu on piano.
Burak Bilgili was on the stage for the second piece of the concert “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Everyone was wondering how would it be like hearing a jazz standard from him. He voiced 3 pieces back to back and brought color to the concert. I think that giving such opportunities to opera singers from time to time will bring a new excitement to the jazz scene. I support it! Bass-Baritone Burak Bilgili was at the top of his voice in “The Barber of Seville”! There was a great applause at the end of the piece.
We listened A Night in Tunisia, Round Midnight, Just Friends, Dindi, Angel Eyes and One Note Samba pieces from Randy Esen’s voice. Each one of them was really fascinating. He will continue to live in our minds as beautiful moments with his scats and sparring with instruments.
At the end of the concert, Randy Esen and Burak Bilgili sang Autumn Leaves together. They performed an unforgettable concert together with the CRR Jazz Orchestra.
Nail Yavuzoğlu made all the orchestral arrangements in the concert. Thank you!
Concert programs have always fascinated me. I am happy to share it with you in detail. Let me make a note of history.
1. Overturn
2. I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Music: Cole Porter)
Soloist: Burak Bilgili
3. Che Bambola (Italian) (Lyrics/Music: Fred Buscaglione)
Soloist: Burak Bilgili
4. Moonglow (Lyrics: Eddie DeLange, Music: Will Hudson, Irving Mills)
Soloist: Burak Bilgili
5. A Night in Tunisia (Music: Dizzy Gillespie)
Soloist: Randy Esen
Solo: Ege Cengiz (Trumpet), Burak Dursun (Trombone)
6. Round Midnight (Music: Thelonious Monk)
Soloist: Randy Esen
Solo: Ege Cengiz (Trumpet)
7. Just Friends (Lyrics: Sam M. Lewis, Music: John Klenner)
Soloist: Randy Esen
Solo: Duru Tuna (Alto Saxophone), Ezgi Daloğlu (Tenor Saxophone), Önder Focan (Guitar)
8. Cheek To Cheek (Lyrics/Music: Irving Berlin)
Soloist: Burak Bilgili
9. Que reste-t-il de nos amours? (Music: Léo Chauliac, Charles Trenet)
Soloist: Burak Bilgili
Solo: Enver Muhamedi (Double Bass)
10. The Barber of Seville (Music: Gioachino Rossini)
Soloist: Burak Bilgili
11. Dindi (Music: Antônio Carlos Jobim)
Soloist: Randy Esen
Solo: Önder Focan (Guitar)
12. Angel Eyes (Lyrics: Earl Brent, Music: Matt Dennis)
Soloist: Randy Esen
Solo: Batu Şallıel (Alto Saxophone), Kaan Bıyıkoğlu (Piano)
13. One Note Samba (Music: Antônio Carlos Jobim)
Soloist: Randy Esen
Solo: Burak Dursun (Trombone), Fırtına Kıral (Drums)
14. Autumn Leaves (Lyrics: Johnny Mercer, Music: Joseph Kosma)
Vocalists: Randy Esen, Burak Bilgili
Solo: Önder Focan (Guitar)
Photograph: RandyEsen_BurakBilgili_CRR_Caz_Orkestrasi_03, Photographer: Beran Paçacı
In this concert, the CRR Jazz Orchestra and vocalists consisted of the following musicians.
Conductor: Nail Yavuzoğlu
Vocal: Randy Esen, Burak Bilgili
Piano: Kaan Bıyıkoğlu
Double Bass: Enver Muhamedi
Drums: Fırtına Kıral
Guitar: Önder Focan
Alto Saxophone: Batu Şallıel, Duru Tuna
Tenor Saxophone: Tamer Temel, Ezgi Daloğlu
Bass Clarinet: Serdar Kalafatoğlu
Trumpet: Ege Cengiz, Elmar Azimzade, Efe Gazi, ?
Trombone: Burak Dursun, Altay Acar, Savaş Şahin, Ozan Öder
Violin: Bahar Büyükgönenç, Hande Gözalan, Leyla Guseynova, Yonca Sülün, Tuba Bayar, Nida Karaçar Uğurlu, Ömür Gören
Viola: Evrim Baştaş, Burak Kayan
Cello: Mert Gürel, Suna Yüksel
