Meral Polat Trio / Karen Willems Terre Sol Four 29-11-24

vr 29 nov '24

Earthy Anatolian songs rooted in blues

Amsterdam-based singer Meral Polat has Kurdish roots. Together with American multi-instrumentalist Chris Doyle and Belgian drummer Jens Bouttery, she takes you on a journey through contemporary Anatolian folk, Kurdish sounds and the roots of the blues. Earthy, hopeful and intense songs.

Meral Polat was born to tell stories and she does this through theater and film productions, but also through music. Her first album Ez Kî Me (Who am I) was born when she found poems written by her father after his death. Through his poetic legacy, the three embark on a quest to interpret the love, vitality and melancholy of the heart.

Meral Polat Trio
Meral Polat (vocals), Chris Doyle (guitar, keys), Jens Bouttery (drums, percussion)

Karen Willems Terre Sol Four

Karen Willems' solo project 'Terre Sol' explores the territory between rough jazz and energetic rock music, with thunderous repetitions, ecstatic screams and an unstoppable forward thrust. After the exploration with saxophones on the album "Grichte" (2022, WERF Records), the third part follows as a new quartet, not least with musicians. They present the album "Juju".

The music on Juju remains as adventurous as before, but this time the playing feels even more powerful. There are rich vocal arrangements, roaring saxophones and compelling melodies. Eccentricity and playfulness go hand in hand, calling for connection in antisocial times. It is the sound of an artist at the height of her powers, digging deeper with visible joy.

"... goes from sultry witches' cauldron to playful jungle festival. Tom Waits occasionally comes to mind, as well as the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and the cubist cures of Mauro Pawlowski. Ambience! - Focus Knack

"Altjazz with a solid angle off and a punk rock drive (...) More accessible than ever, without sacrificing individuality. - Da Music

Karen Willems Terre Sol Four
Karen Willems (drum, percussion, vocals), Maarten Flamand (vocals, guitar, synth), Marc De Maeseneer (baritone sax, bugel), Vincent Brijs (baritone & tenor sax, flute)

The musicians of Meral Polat Trio

Chris Doyle is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar and keyboards. His sound is straight to the point, with warm, grooving keyboards and cutting, hypnotic guitar work tailored to the glowing songs.

Jens Bouttery is a Belgian drummer and composer who has lived in the Netherlands for many years. You might know him from Thunderblender, Les Chroniques de l'Inutile and Hi Hawaii. Within this trio he is the rhythmic engine that gets and uses a lot of freedom.

Concerts by the Meral Polat Trio always develop into spontaneous, intense and captivating experiences. Polat has an engaging personality and sings, dances and speaks from the heart. Folk, blues, jazz, pop and timeless stories come together to create an unforgettable experience.