Istanbul Blues Company Explained

Istanbul Blues Company
Genre:	Blues
Years Active:	–

Istanbul Blues Company (İstanbul Blues Kumpanyası in Turkish; referred as IBC hereafter) was a blues band from Turkey.^{[1] [2]} They are often referred as The Original Turkish Blues Band and bring the blues sound to their national melodies, harvesting both to put together a unique and plausible sound. Despite being short-lived, the band was influential on both the Turkish blues scene and other bands.^[1]

History

IBC was founded in October 1993 by Sarp Keskiner and Salih Nazım Peker as Constantinople Blues Company.^{[1] [3] [4]} They were inspired by blues collectives such as John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. Their first album, the thirteen-track Kökler, was released on tape in a batch of 3,000 in October 1996 and on CD in 1997.^{[4] [5]} Keskiner directed, produced, composed, authored, and arranged this album before leaving in 1997.^[3] IBC released their second and final album, Sair Zamanlar, in 1999^[5] before embarking on their last tour. The band dissolved in 2000.^[4]

In 2022, Bone Union Records released a 1997 recording of IRB playing at the Efes Pilsen Blues Festival.^{[5] [1]}

Personnel

Founders

• Sarp Keskiner^[3] - vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, washtub bass, banjo, foamboard, shaker, spoons, cans, clay bird flutes, tambourine, sticks
• Salih Nazım Peker - vocals, mandolin, banjo, baglama, darbouka

Collective

• Tuğrul Aray^[5] - harmonica, tenor saxophone, saxoflute, pipes, kaval
• İlhan Babaoglu - alto saxophone, bass vocals
• Orçun Baştürk^[5] - drums, bells, piano, conga, timbals, vocals, gongs
• Oya Erkaya - bass
• Erke Erokay - electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Murat Ertel - FX guitar
• Burak Guven - bass
• Vefa Karatay^[5] - bass
• Suna Suner - vocals
• Ertan Tekin - zurna, mey, cura mey
• Erdem Tonguc - Farfisa organ, piano

See also

• Music of Turkey
• List of Turkish musicians

Notes and References

1. Web site: NEW RELEASE BONE UNION RECORDS. 2022-03-13. Mittendorp. Jan. Black and Tan Records. 2022-04-11.
2. Web site: Istanbul Blues Kumpanyasi. https://web.archive.org/web/20060918170616/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/istanbul_blues_kumpanyasi_16816. dead. September 18, 2006. n.d.. National Geographic. 2022-04-11.
3. Web site: Re:konstruKt: New Music Online From Istanbul. 2011-09-01. Galasi. Gian Paolo. All About Jazz. 2022-04-11.
4. Web site: İstanbul Blues Kumpanyası "Kökler". BEŞER. MURAT. 2022-04-10. sOL. 2022-04-11. tr.
5. Web site: review from Turkey. 2022-03-16. Mittendorp. Jan. Black and Tan Records. 2022-04-11. tr.