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Aynur + Melisa Yildirim

Part of the EFG London Jazz Festival

Aynur wearing an embroidered shawl leaning on a small wooden table

A rare London solo show from one of the richest voices in Kurdish folk music.

Perhaps the most prominent Kurdish singer of our times, Aynur’s impressive voice and extraordinary musical narration represent the music heritage of her cultural roots to the world.

Having collaborated with a wide range of acclaimed artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Kayhan Kalhor, Javier Limón, Kinan Azmeh and the NDR Big Band, she has appeared in several documentaries including Fatih Akın’s documentary Crossing the Bridge / The Sound of Istanbul and Morgan Neville's documentary about Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, The Music of Strangers.

Multi award-winning kamancha (spiked fiddle) player and composer, Melisa Yıldırım opens the concert with a solo set full of rich melodies, maqam improvisations and hypnotic timbre. 

Produced by the EFG London Jazz Festival 

‘Aynur’s voice is to hear the transformation of all the layers of human joy and suffering into one sound. It reaches so deep into our soul, then we are for one moment, joined as one.‘
Yo-Yo Ma
‘Impressive musicianship dominated by Aynur’s emotional, versatile vocals - switching from delicate to powerful and intense passages‘
Guardian

Discover

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Listen: Aynur - Hedûr Solace of Time

Listen to Aynur's 2020 album, Hedûr - Solace of Time

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Listen: Jazz on Spotify

Follow our regularly updated Jazz playlist for a sample of the music you'll hear across our programme. 

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