LÂMEKÂN ENSEMBLE ft. BORA UYMAZ

The Lâmekân Ensemble was founded in 2011 by lute player and musicologist  Tristan Driessens. It gained international recognition after its first album Gülzar-i Webâ - Music of The Ottoman Court was released in Istanbul. The album received promising responses both  at home and abroad and meant the beginning of a long collaboration with kemençe- great master Derya Türkan. The Lâmekân Ensemble consists of young Turkish and European musicians who specialize in classical Turkish music. In their concert programs, various facets of Ottoman music are featured, from 16th century vocal music that resounds its Persian origin, until 19th century music and fasl. In 2015, the ensemble was elected to represent Turkey at the prestigious Space of Mugam Festival in Baku (Azerbaijan), where it won the third prize in vocal music. In 2016, in Istanbul, their second (double) album The Book Of Lovers - Defter-i Uşşak was recorded, where a seldom or rarely heard repertoire around Dimitrie Cantemir and old Ottoman music were dusted off. The album enjoyed a particularly well cared for production and will be released in May 2017 by the label from Brussels Cypres records. In addition to Derya Türkan, tanbur grandmaster Murat Aydemir and neyzen Burcu Karadağ participate as guest musician on this album. For the album presentation concert in De Centrale, Lâmekân Ensemble  will be exceptionally joined by Bora Uymaz, one of the most respected and prominent singers of the classic Ottoman song and one of the last major masters of the gazel tradition (vocal improvisation). 

Bora Uymaz (special guest): vocals
Tristan Driessens: oed, artistic management
Muhittin Kemal Temel: kanoen
Ruben Tenenbaum: keman (violin)
Simon Leleux: percussion
Robbe Kieckens: percussion