Istanbul Sessions: Night Ride

Night Rider is the second release by saxophonist Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions project, and the album features the same core group that performed on the debut. Ersahin, who’s of Swedish and Turkish descent, is backed by three Turkish musicians: bassist Alp Ersonmez, percussionist Izzet Kizil, and drummer Turgut Alp Bekoglu. The saxophonist has played with several jazz artists, including George Cables, Eddie Henderson, and Wallace Roney, but this band’s music leans toward funk, rock, and Turkish stylings. Ersahin uses electronic effects on his horn at times, creating a vibe that evokes Eddie Harris’ late-‘60s electric sax recordings. The distorted horn and other elements also imbue the album with a quality recalling late-period Miles Davis. “Etnik” places a wah-wah riff next to rock drumming and percolating Turkish percussion, creating an energized backdrop for Ersahin’s intriguing melody. “One Zero” combines heavy metal drive with woodwind lyricism; the odd combination gives the track a distinct feel. The warmly atmospheric “Gece Inerken” makes a fine closer.