A music festival needs space in which it is contained. When a festival’s programme is informative and curated with dedication, its visitors have the chance of making musical discoveries and experiencing new musical developments early on. Additionally, in the best case, the program also develops societal political approach over the years, its signature so to say or its ethos. For example, an approach of having faith in the culture of dialogue, of respecting dialogue and having equal participation rights in it for all people. This is true for the good times, for troubled times and for politically difficult times too. When Ilhan Ersahin, presented his project “Istanbul Sessions” at Enjoy Jazz for the first time, the programme described the lively Bosporus metropolis as being a birthplace new intercultural creations. In 2016, when Ersahin was special guest at the Enjoy Jazz opening concert with the Lebanese band Mashrou´ Leila, the subjects were Arab Spring, sexual and religious freedom, and the right to party and be individual. Today, things have once again changed regarding the city and the focus on the threat of losing freedom and tolerance. How are the Ilhan Ersahin´s Istanbul Sessions going to approach this?
