AVA Trio - Interview - Türkiye
AVA Trio - Interview
In 2024 the band toured the country on an ambitious and eventful tour. A unique experience that has sown the seeds for even more musical and cultural adventures in Türkiye.
AVA Trio - Interview
Founded in 2015 in Groningen, the Netherlands, AVA Trio consists of Giuseppe Doronzo from Italy on baritone saxophone, mizmar, hulus, sola; Esat Ekincioglu from Turkey on double bass; and Pino Basile on frame drums and cupaphone. Doronzo, Ekincioglu, and Basile are erudite and virtuosic guides, navigating through these rich and diverse sonic surroundings. Their destinations need no justification; their music is timeless.
This interview was conducted with Esat Ekincioglu.
Learn more about AVA Trio HERE
Can you tell us a bit about your collaboration with the Dutch Cultural Department of the Embassy and Consulate in Türkiye?
I am very grateful to have collaborated with the Dutch Cultural Department - without their support and encouragement, such an extensive tour would not be possible. Our communication was very smooth and productive - and they believed in this tour as much as we did.
What inspired you to embark on such an ambitious cross-country tour of Türkiye?
This tour was in the making for the past 10 years, since we started as AVA Trio. I knew all along that AVA Trio’s approach to Mediterranean/Turkish music and improvisation would be very interesting and attractive for Turkish audiences. I received my Dutch citizenship in 2022 and found out then about the 100th Year of Friendship Between The Netherlands and Türkiye in 2024 - I thought this tour would be an amazing opportunity to contribute to the cultural connections between our countries and have focused on making it happen. I wanted this tour to be an example “case study” for not only Dutch presentations in Türkiye; but also for any creative artist/musician to show that such a tour in Türkiye is possible.
How did this tour differ from your earlier musical experiences in Türkiye?
My previous few tours in Türkiye (last one was in 2016 with singer Renske de Boer) were mainly in Istanbul, with singular shows in Bodrum, Ankara and Izmir. The Great Tour of Türkiye was certainly a unique tour in its extent and a brand new challenge for me as a manager. Such a tour of 14 shows and 5500kms would only be possible with a well-seasoned touring band like AVA Trio.
How did you select the venues and locations for your performances?
I’ve been examining the Turkish scene for many years and taking notes on all the possible venues, organisations and people that are open to creative music; and have been doing the advancement of this particular tour for at least 5 years. As in all tours I book, I aimed for an “anchor concert” to build the tour around: that was Ankara Jazz Festival. I had been applying to them since 2018 and with the encouragement of Dutch Cultural Department, they finally decided to book AVA Trio.
Can you tell us about your approach to cross-cultural collaboration?
Giuseppe and I moved to the Netherlands back in 2011-12 to study AfroAmerican jazz at Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen, bringing with us our musical heritage from Türkiye and Italy: this was brewed with the unique and extensive tradition of improvised music in the Netherlands and the sound of the “Amsterdam scene”; resulting in the individualistic and personal music we make with AVA Trio. This cross-cultural collaboration is where we find our inspiration. Our brand new repertoire which we just started composing and rehearsing takes us back to the moments and scenes we had on this tour.
Can you discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them?
Unfortunately I had several shows cancelled last minute - I even had to replace 2 shows “after” the announcement of the tour, right before we embarked. Luckily I had several options for most cities - and managed to find replacement concerts. Some of the venues needed a lot of persuasion and persistence. Flexibility and patience was the only way; we adapted to the circumstances as we went along.
Could you share some memorable moments or reactions from the audiences during the tour?
At literally all 14 shows, the most intense, experimental and noisy section in the middle of our set got a big cheer and applause. This was amazing to experience: we really felt that the Turkish audience is ready to welcome on the stage the most daring artistic expressions. Besides that, we traveled all across the country by land and have seen some amazing and ever-changing landscapes, visited breathtaking Mardin , Gobeklitepe , Pamukkale and experienced all 4 seasons from knee-deep snow in Eastern Anatolia to chilly summer afternoon in Bodrum - this tour as a whole was a wonderful experience.
In what ways do you believe that music can expand and enhance cultural exchanges, where are the limitations and where are the best possibilities?
Music is a melting pot and is a common language between all cultures, yet it remains accessible to everyone - even in its most abstract and experimental forms. The global challenge is to get people out of their homes and comfort zones to attend concerts. In the light of AVA Trio, under the “light ethno-jazz” guise where Turkish ears find many commonalities and comfort zones, we exposed them to a large array of Dutch/European improvisation and musical experimentation; adding to both the Turkish and Dutch music heritages.
How do you select the themes or messages for your music and musical collaborations, and what considerations do you take into account?
We name our work an “ archeomusicological expedition”; in which we reimagine long-lost civilisations of the Mediterranean, locations and the similar experiences shared by the peoples of the region for over many millennia. Looking at the present through the lens of the past, our music aims to be “timeless”.
What are your future plans and expectations, especially regarding future appearances in Türkiye and collaborations with Turkish musicians?
The tour was successful. For next season, we are preparing a program featuring guest musicians and hope to realise it in Turkiye as well featuring Turkish musicians. With frequent appearances, I hope that Turkiye will become a stable destination for our tours. Besides AVA Trio, I’m planning to repeat a similar tour with my solo project “Turkish Pumpkin” featuring Turkish improvisers as well as Dutch musicians.
What advice would you give to other Dutch musicians in relation to the opportunities and challenges of performing in Türkiye and collaborating with Turkish musicians, venues and organisers?
I think there is a big hunger for creative music in Türkiye and a great audience potential. The music infrastructure is slowly developing and there are more shows and audience outside Istanbul than expected. I would advise not to rely too much on what people (musicians and organisers ) promise and say; have everything in writing and be demanding.