ISTANBUL, TURKEY, June 16, 2005 – Istanbul, the timeless city that embraces two continents, will celebrate music’s global appeal with the 12^th International Istanbul Jazz Festival, July 6 – 17, 2005, when hundreds international musicians and 30 bands will enliven the city’s already exuberant tempo for 12 days and nights at an exciting array of venues. The festival embraces the masters of jazz but also heralds the triumphs of genres such as rock, pop, reggae, funk and folk in performances from massive free street shows to intimate club concerts.

Headlining the festival, the iconic singer songwriter Tori Amos will grace the stage of the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater making her Istanbul debut on July 10^th and performing her melodic ballads under the stars. Wrapping up the European leg of her Summer of Sin Tour, Amos will perform the newest hits from 2005’s poetic album The Beekeeper, along with fan requested favorites.

On July 8^th the Open Air Theater will reverberate with a different kind of groove, when Elvis Costello cuts loose with his unique blend of rock, pop, jazz and reggae steeped in the gospel-rooted sounds of Memphis soul seasoned with a dash of new wave rock. In this highly anticipated demonstration of jazz’s expressive freedom, Costello and his acclaimed band, the Imposters, will showcase how today’s music synthesizes elements of classic styles in one of Istanbul’s most historic venues. 

Trumpeting a favorite sound among festival goers, legendary trombonist Dizzy Gillespie’s All Star Big Band will showcase the classic sounds of brass and the power of jazz on July 14^th during another Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater performance.  Starring the internationally acclaimed Slide Hampton and John Lee, the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band gives voice to the swing tradition. As a tribute to the rich music and cultural tradition of the festival’s host city, the band will be joined by special local guest artist Muvaffak “Maffy” Falay during the show. The sound of Falay’s jazz inspired trumpet caught the ear and admiration of Gillespie himself, who recommended him to the American market joking "Just your name is going to make you famous!"    

Jamie Cullum, who many consider the leader of contemporary jazz, will perform his “magnificently vibrant” rock, pop jazz concerts on one of the oldest stages in the world, the Sepetçiler Kasri on the coast of the Bosphorus. Two years ago, Cullum, then 23, launched his debut album “Twentysomething” which quickly became the fastest selling jazz album in UK jazz history making him the biggest selling UK jazz artist ever.

As a Blue Note recording label artist with a more traditional jazz approach to vocals, Dianna Reeves, on stage July 13^th, follows in the footsteps of legends Ella Fitzgerald and Anita Baker. Her strong and distinct voice, a portal to the sounds now seldom heard, will offer the audience a voice from yesterday with words that speak to today.   

As always, one of the festival’s distinguishing features will be the way it utilizes Istanbul ’s many attractions, mounting productions in venues as spectacular as the performances, from historic monuments and Ottoman palaces to exhibition halls and nightclubs, even a ferry.  Events are set to take place in Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre, Ses Theater, Babylon , Kemer Golf & Country Club, and the Istanbul Culture and Congress Centre set amidst the forest in AyazaÄźa. The festival will take advantage of Turkey ’s idyllic coastal setting offering a water-trotting ferry venue and free day of music open to the public upon the Jazz Boat on Sunday, July 17^th.  

For the complete schedule of events and ticket prices for the 12^th International Istanbul Jazz Festival, a member of the European Jazz Festivals Organization, visit http://www.iksv.org/english/. 

Tickets can be ordered in advance via telephone or the Web and can also be arranged on-site by the concierges of any of Istanbul ’s many world-class hotels.   To order tickets by phone, call  90 216 556 98 00 and to purchase on the Internet, long onto www.biletix.com or www.garanti.com.tr.

Reflecting the international range of the festival is the global perspective of it supporters.  This year’s sponsors and contributors are Garanti Bank, Emirates, Matras, DHL, Heidelberg Cement and LASSA.

Turkey , the site of two wonders of the ancient world, is a present-day marvel – the cradle of civilization, the very center of world history and a modern Westward-looking republic. It is a country of fascinating contrasts, where antiquity is juxtaposed with the contemporary, the familiar with the exotic; where sun-swept beaches beckon less than an hour away from snow-capped mountains, and everywhere visitors are treated to the extraordinary warmth of the Turkish people. Turkey , the site of two wonders of the ancient world, is a present-day marvel – the cradle of civilization, the very center of world history and a modern Westward-looking republic. It is a country of fascinating contrasts, where antiquity is juxtaposed with the contemporary, the familiar with the exotic; where sun-swept beaches beckon less than an hour away from snow-capped mountains, and everywhere visitors are treated to the extraordinary warmth of the Turkish people.

For information about travel to Turkey, call 1-877-FOR-TURKEY 
or contact the Turkish Culture and Tourism Offices in New York at 212-687-2194 
or in Washington D.C. at 202-612-6800 or in Los Angeles at 323-937-8066
and visit www.tourismturkey.org 
or www.kulturturizm.gov.tr