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Monday, November 16, 2009 - 11:15 AM
 Hasan Özgök and Lucas van Merwijk are two top musicians, in the fields of world music and jazz respectively; the former is a native of Istanbul, Turkey, and the latter of Baarn in The Netherlands. World music pioneer Hasan Özgök, who earned his reputation with the legendary Hasan Band, is initiator of Dutch-Turkish pop music, which skyrocketed to popularity in the mid - eighties. Özgök’s roots lie in one of the liveliest quarters of Istanbul, Kasimpasja. He allowed himself to be inspired by the gypsy music, “Roma”, that was played all over his neighbourhood.
Hasan’s latest innovative project is integrating Afro-Cuban rhythms into this beloved Roma music. By adding this Latin touch he has managed to create a unique cross-over, “Roma-Latin”. It felt only natural for him to invite Lucas van Merwijk to combine artistic forces for this remarkable album, Mamborama. Lucas is renowned for his scintillating Cubop City Big Band and is commonly recognized as the latin-, fusion- and jazzdrummer in The Netherlands and Belgium alike. Throughout the years Hasan’s admiration of Van Merwijk’s performances has been huge, realizing that without Lucas there would not be Latin, in the same way as there would not be Roma without Hasan. As he puts it: “Hasan is Roma, Lucas is Latin”.
The sizzling combination of Hasan’s gypsy music-based compositions and Lucas’ driving Afro-Cuban grooves has created an astonishing musical crossover. This completely new bridge between two seemingly incompatible music genres makes for a unprecedented world class music format.In Hasan’s vocals and guitar play one easily recognizes the heartfelt Roma-elements “weltschmerz and passionate love”; virtuoso drummer Lucas’s unmistaken Latin feel adds a uniquely organic twist to the whole, resulting in a sensational, swinging sound.This scintillating musical interplay between Istanbul and Havanna, performed by a ten-man line-up, including an awesome horn section, brings you top class listening as well as superb dancing pleasure.
Me & My Other Records
MMOCD 2008
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