“A Capoeira Turca (Baia Havası)” is the first single from Istanbul-born, Boston-based Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol’s forthcoming album ‘Turkish Hipster: Tales From Swing To Psychedelic’.
We covered an ambitious and complex large ensemble album from pianist/composer Sanlikol – who is also Director of the Intercultural Institute at New England Conservatory – “The Rise-Up”, with a detailed review in 2020 (link below). This is a video exclusive; the track is released today 24 June 2023. The full album, with guests including Miguel Zenon, is due in four weeks on 21 July.
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Celebrated pianist, composer, and renowned scholar Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol is gearing up for the release of his seventh album, Turkish Hipster: Tales From Swing To Psychedelicon July 21, 2023. On his latest, Sanlıkol seeks to establish a common thread that connects musical cultures from around the world, showcasing the beauty of a global musical language. As part of the album release, Sanlıkol has announced the official music video for the track “A Capoeira Turca (Baia Havası)”, which is also the first single.
Inspired by the unique “swing” feel shared by the Brazilian Capoeira and Turkish folk music traditions, “A Capoeira Turca (Baia Havası)” is a spellbinding fusion of these diverse musical influences. Sanlıkol’s rich background of collaborating with Brazilian musicians and his mastery of the saz, a Turkish long-necked lute, provided the foundation for him to conceive this musical masterpiece. “At first, I honestly was not sure whether it was too crazy to have the berimbau and the saz create the backbone of a roughly 10-minute long composition for the jazz orchestra. But I gave it a shot, and here we are!”

To bring his vision to life, Sanlıkol collaborated with the talented musician Anat Cohen, who is featured as the soloist in “A Capoeira Turca (Baia Havası)”. Cohen’s extensive knowledge of Brazilian music and jazz made her the perfect choice for this challenging composition. He says, “I am always grateful to have Anat be the featured soloist in these adventurous compositions because not only is she a wonderful person but she is also willing to take risks. However, in this particular case, she really was the obvious choice because she has internalized a variety of Brazilian music as well as jazz.” Sanlıkol and Cohen have a shared history; in 1997, when he was graduating from Berklee College of Music, she played in his big band.
With the release of the official music video for “A Capoeira Turca (Baia Havası),” Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol invites audiences on a journey through the fusion of Brazilian and Turkish musical traditions. The video, which was produced entirely by Sanlıkol, is a visual and auditory feast, providing a window into the creative mind of the composer and highlighting the universal appeal of his musical language.
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