Like many musicians, Barbaros Erkose moved to Istanbul from the Balkans in the early 60s. On Istanbul radio, he played with many of the country's most famous artists and was the first to bring clarinet into the fasil ensemble solo programs. He also performed with his brothers in local first class nightclubs, leading to the beginning of his recording career, in which he made recordings with his brothers Ali and Selahattin as the famous Erkose Kardesler (The Brothers Erkose). While continuing to perform with the Istanbul TRT, Barbaros began to receive international recognition following a performance in France in 1984. Growing critical acclaim has set Barbaros on a solo career and to engage in creative fusion projects with musicians from other cultures.
Under the leadership of the young Macedonian / Turkish clarinet virtuoso Ismail Lumanovski, the NY Gypsy All-Stars have amazed audiences in NYC. The band was born out of the annual NY Gypsy Festival, playing jazz-inflected Turkish, Balkan and Mediterranean Romani (Gypsy) songs to frenzied crowds. The All Stars showcases some of NY's finest musicians including Ismail Lumanovski from Macedonia on clarinet, Tamer Pinarbasi from Turkey on qanun, Panogiotis Andreu from Greece on bass, and Engin Gunaydin on drums. The band performed with such world music icons as Turkish clarinet master Husnu Senlendirici and Bulgarian virtuoso Ivo Papasov.
Ilhan Ersahin is a Turkish/Swedish saxophonist, producer and composer living in New York. He founded Lower East Side club Nublu in 2002 and runs Nublu Records, as well as performing with his bands Wax Poetic, I Led 3 Lives, Our Theory, Wonderland, Love Trio and the Nublu Orchestra.
Trumpeter/composer Frank London is a member of the Klezmatics and Hasidic New Wave. He has performed with John Zorn, LL Cool J, Mel Torme, Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, LaMonte Young, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne, Jane Siberry, Ben Folds 5, Mark Ribot, Maurice El Medioni and Gal Costa and is featured on over one hundred LPs.
Friday, September 25
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm
Barbaros Erkose with NY Gypsy All-Stars and special guests Frank London & Ilhan Ersahin at Lafayette Grill
54 Franklin St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 732-5600
