Primary Instrument: Saxophone
Ilhan Ersahin is a saxophone instrumentalist, composer and music producer of Turkish origin, born in Sweden and living in New York. He owns the New York jazz club Nublu and his own record label under the same name.
His “Wonderland”, recorded in İstanbul and New York comes forward as the vigilant reflection and expression of ties with Istanbul and his interest in Turkish music. A magical togetherness is evoked through the collaboration of musicians from Turkey and from New York. The former Anatolian-jazz collective Laço Tayfa's renowned clarinetist Hüsnü Şenlendirici, percussionist Mehmet Akatay and quanun-player Nuri Lekesizgöz along with the unconventional voices of new generation Istanbul vocalists like Nil Karaibrahimgil, Bora and the 14 year old Dilara are featured on the album as well as Erşahin's long-time accomplices, Matt Pennman on bass, Jochen Reuckert on drums and Danish guitarist/computerized FX-loops-samples wrangler Thor Madsen and bassist. The sweet yet strong blend of jazz with a brand new flowing, melodic oriental music in a digital milieu outcomes as universal, futuristic and elegant. Wonderland traveled through Turkey and Europe for Berlin Jazz Festival, Cologne Stadtgarten, and Kopenhagen Bimhuis.
Erşahin's primary initiative is Nublu in New York City where his artistic prowess finally breathes. Nublu is an unmarked live music venue which became the locus of a downtown music scene; part jazz, part world, part rare groove. Initially Nublu local draw , Erşahin's own collective Wax Poetic (born out of stumbling jams of urban electronica, acid-jazz, dub funk and Middle Eastern melodies with performers including Norah Jones, N'Dea Davenport, U-Roy, Saul Williams) grew into a worldwide sensation.
Ersahin formerly directed the jam sessions for three consecutive years at the International Akbank Jazz Festival in Istanbul and has triumphantly traded riffs with Sam Rivers, James Carter, Craig Harris and John Zorn.
Ilhan Ersahin also embodies the world of minimalist electronica. His current projects include more song-oriented band, Wax Poetic and Love Trio with reggae/dub legend U-Roy, but he also shares the stage with the phenomenal Turkish gypsy clarinetist Husnu Senlendereci.
