Morocco’s famous international music festival, “Visa for Music” (VFM), with the sponsorship of Rabat Yunus Emre Enstitüsü welcomed İlhan Erşahin’s band “İstanbul Sessions” in a concert at Mohammed V National Theater on Saturday, November 14, 2015.

Blending İstanbul’s dynamic soul with several genres like jazz, rock, disco, and dub, “İstanbul Sessions” has proven its success at venues all over the world, ranging from New York to Istanbul, Paris to São Paulo, and London to Skopje. Many music critics, producers, and Moroccan listeners were present at the concert.

The hour-long performance of İstanbul Sessions received a thumbs-up from the critics and the audience, and reflected the rich array of Turkey’s vast musical accumulation.

About İlhan Erşahin

One of the leading saxophonists of the world, İlhan Erşahin was born in 1965 to a Swedish mother and a Turkish father in Stockholm, Sweden. He moved to New York, USA for his music education and settled there to work with well-known musicians. Owing to his sophisticated personality, Erşahin has represented Turkey in the international art scene through his endeavors as a composer, producer, music label director, festival curator, and club owner.

Erşahin’s projects include Wax Poetic, Love Trio, Our Theory, I Led 3 Lives, Silver, Nublu Orchestra, Bugge’n’Friends, Wonderland, and Istanbul Sessions, and support his testament that he is open to all genres of music ranging from traditional Turkish motifs to funk.

Erşahin has released over 40 albums, performed in hundreds of local and international festivals and shows, and has worked with celebrities like Bebel Gilberto, Norah Jones, U-Roy, Eddie Henderson, Erik Truffaz, Sabina Sciubba, Saul Williams, N’Dea Davenport, Karina Zeviani, Mamelo Soundsytem, Nina Becker, Thalma de Freitas, Nil Karaibrahimgil, Bora Uzer, Dilara Sakpınar, Hüsnü Şenlendirici, Arto Tunçboyacıyan and Mercan Dede.

About "Visa for Music"

“Visa for Music” (VFM) is a Moroccan music festival that takes place annually in November under the patronage of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The festival aims to bring together, promote, and strengthen the artistic dynamism and rich musical tradition of Africa, Middle East, and the rest of the world.