Ilhan Erşahin

Born in Stockholm in 1965 from a Swedish mother and a Turkish father, Ilhan Erşahin moved to USA in the mid-80s to complete his musical education. He is now living in New York but goes to Istanbul often. One of the most talented saxophonist of his generation, Erşahin’s musical and geographical course is without boundaries. As stated in the Le Monde review of his latest album Istanbul Sessions (featuring Erik Truffaz): “Open your ears, jazz has changed its shape.”

This New Yorker is a wizard. Mixing a whole range of different musical styles and influences such as jazz, electro, reggae, hip-hop, pop, bossa nova and Middle-Eastern folk, Ilhan comes out with a new, rough and thrilling sound he calls “Nublu music”!

The saxophonist composes and performs in no less than seven bands: Wax Poetic, Love Trio, I led 3 lives, Nublu Orchestra, Istanbul Sessions, Wonderland and Silver. He has also collaborated with major artists such as Joe Lovano, Eddie Henderson, U-Roy, Norah Jones, Saul Williams, Vincent Segal, Bebel Gilberto and Tarkan.

Moreover, Erşahin is a record producer (Nublu Records) and manages two clubs, one in New York and Nublu Istanbul in Turkey.