Istanbul-based free music ensemble Konstrukt perform alongside special guest Alexander Hawkins. Having played with the likes of Joe McPhee, Peter Brötzmann, William Parker and Marshall Allen, Konstrukt have carved a niche for themselves at the very forefront of Turkish free music. Their heady mix of electronics and traditional instrumentation sets Hawkins swinging, and the group get an irresistible groove going in the sweaty OTO summer. --- Korhan Futacı / alto & tenor saxophones, gralla, flutes, voice, loops Umut Çağlar / electric guitar, zurna, gralla, flutes, tape echo, rythymbox Barlas Tan Özemek / electric bass Berke Can Özcan / drums, electric drum module Alexander Hawkins / acoustic piano, melodica --- Recorded on August 10th 2015 by Luca Consonni. Mixed & Mastered by Barlas Tan Özemek in Istanbul. Photograph by Dawid Laskowski  

Konstrukt made contact with both Alexander Hawkins and Alan Wilkinson during their presence at Konfrontationen Festival in Nickelsdorf in 2013 where the band performed for the second time in Austria after Saalfelden Jazz Festival with Marshall Allen in 2011. All three parts were excited and have agreed to get together sometime in the future. The result was a night of music with high energy and a wide musical perspective. From drum & bass to ethnic funk vibes, from straight free jazz bursts to spiritual chantings, the whole performance here shows a wide range of outer wordly aspects of all musicians present. --- Korhan Futaci / alto & tenor saxophones, flutes, sipsi, kaba zurna, voiceUmut Çaglar / electric guitar, gralla, bamboo flutes, pocket drum machine, xylophones, percussion, tape echoBarlas Tan Özemek / electric bassEdiz Hafizoglu / drums, cymbals, bells, turkish hang drum+Alexander Hawkins / acoustic pianoAlan Wilkinson / baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, voiceDaniel Spicer / pocket trumpet, bugle, bamboo saxophone, shenai, recorder, pan pipe, whistle, cow bell, kalimba, voice --- Omlott Records, 2018

Konstrukt's return to OTO after their killer show with regular London guest Alexander Hawkins back in 2015. This time around the band invited Alan Wilkinson and Daniel Spicer to join and form a seven piece ensemble who somehow crammed themselves in behind the monitors. Both multi-intrumentalists, Wilkinson and Spicer brought fresh textures and techniques to the group. From drum & bass and funk lines, to straight free jazz bursts and spiritual chantings, the range of sound in each set is incredible - and all given that classic dose of high energy by the Turkish free giants.  --- Korhan Futaci / alto & tenor saxophones, flutes, sipsi, kaba zurna, voiceUmut Çaglar / electric guitar, gralla, bamboo flutes, pocket drum machine, xylophones, percussion, tape echoBarlas Tan Özemek / electric bassEdiz Hafizoglu / drums, cymbals, bells, turkish hang drum+Alexander Hawkins / acoustic pianoAlan Wilkinson / baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, voiceDaniel Spicer / pocket trumpet, bugle, bamboo saxophone, shenai, recorder, pan pipe, whistle, cow bell, kalimba, voice --- Recorded live at Café OTO by Shaun Crook on September 12th, 2016, London. Mixed and mastered by Umut Çaglar in Istanbul, Turkey. Artwork by Oli Barrett. Original Photo by Dawid Laskowski. We wish to thank Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival for inviting Konstrukt to the UK, and to Omlott recordings for their enthusiasm putting out the physical version of the recording, which you can purchase here.