Love Songs – Sibel Köse featuring Michiel Borstlap

From Sibel Köse

We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Jazz Society of Turkey, established in Ankara in 1995. I was a young, ceaselessly active and willing singer in those days, who was just starting to appear on the jazz scene. Now, looking back, I realize that there are so many precious memories hidden here and there in this adventure for the last quarter of a century. I would like to thank and congratulate the people who have been involved, as the Jazz Society has supported us, the musicians, and development of jazz in Turkey. I hope that we’d keep on celebrating for many years to come.

Özlem Oktar Varoğlu has been playing a very special role in that sense from day one. She is the one who is responsible for the existence of the Jazz Society in the first place and her efforts to improve and enrich Ankara Jazz Festival are immeasurable. By organizing the festival with a new and creative concept every year and extending its boundaries whenever and wherever possible, she succeeded to unite so many musicians with an ever-growing audience. She is the one who introduced Michiel to me in Bodrum years ago and continued bringing us together through various organizations. The concept of ‘Love Songs’ was initially her idea and she put all her dedication and energy to realize this album. Her willingness and resilience have been the major force to make this dream come true. I would like to thank her and Ahmet Lütfi Varoğlu, from the bottom of my heart, for their support and understanding.

We had several concerts with Michiel so far, in the Netherlands and Turkey. As we spent more time together over years, we shared more and more, and our mutual musical experience as well as friendship have grown and matured. His incredible musicianship, sensitivity, open-mindedness, empathy, tranquility, maturity, creativity and mastery have always enchanted and thrilled me. It is an amazing experience to sing along with him. I’m more than glad to have met him and words fall short to describe how happy I am to be with him on this album.

I know that whatever I’m capable of doing, I owe it to people who have supported me all the way; to my family, friends, teachers, masters and to my modest yet faithful audience. This recording is dedicated to love, these ‘love songs’ were sung and played for you. I sincerely hope that you’d enjoy listening to it and if possible you’d be dreaming while doing so, as I’m dreaming to take you a little bit away from your sorrow and burden. I’m honored to be a part of this special anniversary and I would like to express my gratitude to the Jazz Society for transforming a memorable night into this album. Cheers!

From Michiel Borstlap

Since many years I've had the privilege to perform in Turkey at the big festivals and concert halls, mainly because of the promotional skills of my dear friends at Jazz Society of Turkey and especially Özlem Oktar Varoğlu. Her ongoing efforts to promote Jazz in Turkey are well known in the international music scene.

It was through her that I heard about Ms. Sibel Köse. Sibel is a tremendous jazz singer with an extraordinary sound which is very hard to find these days. When I play with her I often dream away. I hope you’ll do the same when listening to our new album ‘Love Songs’.

From the Jazz Society

We are proud to be one of the supporters of Love Songs - Sibel Köse & Michiel Borstlap album. A woman and a man, equal on stage, for a pure and vivid expression of jazz; a delightful and delicate yet powerful voice and a gentle pianist with a lyrical style, on the most noble acoustic instrument. The songs are classics but the execution is modern. It is an album by two beloved friends of ours and we have been waiting for it for a long time.

Sibel Köse is one of the most impressive jazz vocals of our time. She is the reason behind the foundation of the Jazz Society among a very few artists. We tried to be with her through her musical life and we have always appreciated her upmost ability to sing and to teach how to sing, to almost every jazz voice in our country. Her voice fascinates us every time she sings. Sibel has the capacity to melt our hearts and make us better human beings after each concert.

Michiel Borstlap holds a very special place in our hearts too. We are so happy to be able to listen to him in our events since 1998. His kind and expressive musicality and capacity to tell musical stories in such a wide range is the reason we are in love with him. He is no wonder one of the best pianists and composers of our time. We appreciate his devotion to music and humanity. He is a true gentleman and an Ambassador for music between Turkish and Dutch people.

We are releasing this album at the 25th Anniversary of Jazz Society and we would like to thank all who have contributed to the Society, members, audiences, musicians, sponsors, companies, government agencies, Embassies and Cultural Offices and all of our present and past staff.

The concert was recorded live in Ankara Jazz Festival and it had its own process to brew. Now is the time. Let us leave the daily chaos behind, relax and listen to this beautiful album, Love Songs. Let us remember love is the only meaning of the universe.

Özlem Oktar Varoğlu
Jazz Society

Credits
We would like to thank to the Jazz Society for producing this album,
audience of Ankara Jazz Festival for their participation and ovation during the concert on December 17, 2015
Netherlands Embassy in Ankara for their support,
the administration of Sevda Cenap And Foundation for providing the Bösendorfer piano,
YESA for the sound system,
Ruben Kieftenbelt for his diligence in the setup, recording, edits and the rough mixes,
Ege Dai for his devotion and rigor in the final mixes,
Dave Darlington for mastering,
Melih Özbek for the photography,
Alper Yılmaz for his ever supportive friendship and guidance,
Elif Seven for her creativity, hard work and support in the album’s graphic and visual designs,
Norma Winstone for being a source of inspiration, writing the lyrics to the wonderful ballad of Jimmy Rowles, ‘the Peacocks’ hence introducing it to the jazz singers’ repertoire as ‘A Timeless Place’, and encouraging us by allowing to use her lyrics in this album,
to the staff at Jazz Society for their effort in realising the project,

POS

Caz Derneği - Boğaz Sokak 4/14 Çankaya/Ankara

Shades - Tunalı Hilmi Cd. 95/37 Çankaya/Ankara

Küçük Plak Dükkanı - Caferağa Mah. Bademaltı Sokak 5-A Moda/Kadıköy

Dibekbakkal - Yakaköy Çilek Caddesi 46/2 Ortakent/Bodrum

Love Songs – Sibel Köse featuring Michiel Borstlap
Recorded live at Ankara Jazz Festival, December 17, 2015

Sibel Köse Vocal

Michiel Borstlap Piano

Producer & Sponsor Caz Derneği | Jazz Society

Executive Producer Özlem Oktar Varoğlu

Live Recording Ruben Kieftenbelt

Mix Ege Dai

Mastering Dave Darlington

Photography Melih Özbek

Cover Design Elif Seven, Işık Evirgen

Distribution Caz Derneği | Jazz Society

Printing FRS Matbaa

Manufacturing Sera Manyetik Bant San. Tic. AŞ

For inquiries lovesongs@cazdernegi.org