Cotham Club presents: Eastern Strings + Özcan Ateş at Cotham Parish Church

About

Thrilling Kurdish/Middle Eastern sound worlds.

Rich, distinctive, and heartfelt music, a tapestry of turkish kurd songs and striking middle eastern sounds.

Özcan Ateş: bağlama, vocals
Knud Stüwe: oud
Daphna Sadeh Neu: double bass
Jenny Glester: violin
Chas Whitaker: percussion

The playing of Bristol-based duo Eastern Strings (Daphna Sadeh Neu, double bass, and Knud Stüwe, oud) combines classical precision, world music energy, and characterful jazz improvisation. Their instrumental music is distinctive and exquisite, drawing together a tapestry of musical cultures from across the Middle East. The formidable accompaniment of outstanding violinist Jenny Glester and master percussionist Chas Whitaker elevates the larger ensemble.

Special guest, the Turkish Kurd singer and musician Özcan Ates, is an exponent of the ear-catching traditional bağlama, a seven-stringed, long-necked lute originally used to accompany Alevi poetry recitals. His playing is intense and musically enriching; his vocals are lyrical, emotional, versatile.

Currently in exile and living in Bristol, Özcan is a gifted member of the new generation of Turkish bağlama players following in the footsteps of celebrated artists such as fretless guitar pioneer Erkan Oğur and folk poet Âşık Veysel. He is an active member of the Dovetail Orchestra, an inspirational and adventurous ensemble of refugees and asylum-seekers.

Together, Özcan Ateş and the Eastern Strings' intricate and eclectic mix of Kurdish, Turkish, and Middle Eastern traditional songs and contemporary originals is viscerally gorgeous, full of surprise and delight, magical, and transporting. High class.