CD Review: Sarp Maden's 'Ardindan'

Sarp Maden
Ardindan
Kalan

Sarp Maden's exciting 2010 Turkish jazz release explores a little vocal prowess on "Tazecik," while the remaining songs are completely instrumental. The musical tone is upbeat jazz with keyboard, trumpet, fretless bass, fiddle, and guitar accompaniment throughout. The nine songs traverse the world of ethnic jazz, experimental, avant-garde, and fusion. The music is slightly more complex and varied than the more recent release, Durgun Sular. In a related manner, the music is more rock-driven on a few tracks with frenzied guitar stylings and fast playing, but it is not out of the ordinary for world jazz. Anyone with an interest in world jazz, Turkish jazz, or instrumental music will be very happy with Sarp Maden's Ardindan. ~ Matthew Forss