East meets West is a rather dusty formula – if it weren't for Ayça Miraç. With her new album A Window to the Bosporus, the singer has released a fresh mix of jazz with Turkish and Lasian influences. And interestingly, everything is “Made in Germany.”

Contrary to what the album title might suggest, Miraç was not born in Istanbul, but in Gelsenkirchen. The daughter of Turkish writer Yaşar Miraç and a Laz mother spent part of her childhood in the Schalke metropolis and graduated from high school there. She did, however, spend part of her childhood in Istanbul, the city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. There, her grandfather introduced her to classical Turkish music, which broadened her horizons beyond her German choir and piano lessons. This laid the foundation for her window to the Bosphorus.

Miraç draws on a comprehensive base of knowledge as a singer, composer, lyricist, and arranger. For her new album, she has teamed up with pianist Henrique Gomide, bassist and arranger Philipp Grußendorf, and drummer Marcus Rieck, the members of her band Lasjazz.

Miraç draws on her comprehensive knowledge as a singer, composer, lyricist, and arranger. For her new album, she has teamed up with pianist Henrique Gomide, bassist and arranger Philipp Grußendorf, and drummer Marcus Rieck, the members of her band Lasjazz.

Together they have created a delicate, restrained album that oscillates between jazz and Turkish and Lasian influences and would be labeled world jazz or even ethno jazz in technical jargon. The music radiates a surprising amount of calm and warmth. It invites you to sit back, relax, and surrender to its sounds. The listener is rewarded with a delightful slowdown.

The lyrics of most of the songs revolve around the Bosphorus, Istanbul, water, and everything associated with it. Yelkenler (Sails) lets many small boats with their white sails hoisted on the water twinkle. Bu Dünya Bir Pencere (The World is a Window) swings into the room in 7/4 time with Turkish influences. Akşam Boğaziçi'nde (Evening on the Bosphorus) exhales the burden of the day and invites you to rest and relax. And Heyamo, a traditional Lasian song about female self-determination, carries Miraç's sensitive voice into the room in a refreshed guise, accompanied by dripping piano and brushes that rustle across the skins like the wind.

The recording of A Window To The Bosporus is surprisingly spacious and intimate at the same time. Miraç is tangibly present in the room, the piano and bass are richly articulated, and even the smallest details of the drumming are reproduced in detail and placed convincingly. Music you can almost reach out and touch, you might say. In any case, it is music to watch, even if only with your ears and the magic of your imagination.

This makes Ayça Miraç's latest album, A Window To The Bosporus, an all-around successful recording that is a joy to listen to. Çok teşekkürler! (Thank you very much!) (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Ayça Miraç, voice, arrangements, compositions & lyrics
Henrique Gomide, piano
Philipp Grußendorf, bass & arrangements
Marcus Rieck, drums