all that jazz

Another extraordinary day - there have been several recently, 

This morning was the last session of the two week Summer Art course and parents came for an open house to see the work. I was happy with what we were able to share, and they seemed happy to see it - everyone's happy then. 

Clearing up in the studio and at the apartment until joining Sarah, Marshall, Sean and Kate in Marshall's garden for drinks, primarily to say 'bye to Sarah who leaves soon for a new job in South Korea. 

Then, the main event - as part of the annual Istanbul Jazz Festival -  a concert tonight on Konak Terrace at Robert College where the first of two bands was the Deniz Taşar quartet who mesmerized me with their unique jazz fusion style. Immensely proud of this '09 RC graduate and former student of mine who began her singing career with the school's orchestra run by my friend and colleague, also Deniz.  Now she's performing in the prestigious Istanbul Jazz Festival. Wow. Extraordinary. Chatted to her for a while during the interval and look forward to hearing her perform again in Istanbul.  Saw other graduates too of course - come to see their old class mate perform in such familiar surroundings. All too wonderful really.

The photo, taken as I left (I didn't stay for the second band as I was easily able to hear it from the apartment, and had so much to do before leaving Istanbul on Sunday morning). Really bad photo but as a memento of a wonderful evening it is perfect - especially with the Bosphorus and the Asian side also captured in the photograph..  

More about the Istanbul Jazz festival here

More about Deniz Taşar here including the song Onu Ona Ona Onu which was one of her songs tonight.