BlurNotes is a music label built around encounter, listening, and shared creation. It brings together musicians from different backgrounds and gives them space to explore sound without rigid boundaries. At its core is improvisation, not as a technique, but as a way of connecting, responding, and discovering something new together.BlurNotes documents these moments as they unfold, valuing nuance, silence, texture, and the subtle chemistry between players. It is a platform for honest musical dialogue and for the kind of harmony that emerges when artists truly listen to one another.

Recorded at Cemal Reşit Rey, this singular night brings together Derya Türkan, Michel Godard, Ali Bahrami Fard, Efren Lopez, and Arto Tunçboyaciyan in a circle of deep listening—documented by Batu Akyol as the moment tradition, improvisation, and presence converged.

Recorded in the resonant stone architecture of Stone Nest, this live performance brings together three defining voices of contemporary jazz: saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, bassist Jasper Høiby, and drummer Robert Mehmet Ikiz. Intricate compositions dissolve into fearless improvisation, shaped by deep rhythmic conversation and harmonic tension. The concert was fully documented on film by Batu Akyol, capturing not only the sound but the fragile, unrepeatable energy of the moment — a BlurNotes live recording where clarity emerges from chaos, and form blurs into freedom.

Derya TürkanThe kemençe is like a human voice: it can hold both sorrow and joy, and it reveals those two sides with an honesty that feels human.

Michel GodardWith the serpent I can speak more like a voice—soft enough to truly dialogue, and free to use quarter-tones and micro-intervals that belong to many musical worlds.

Arto TunçboyacıyanTake your calculator and try to measure my feelings—some things can’t be done by math. That’s why I call it reactional music.

Efren LopezFor me, tradition is accumulated knowledge—centuries of trial and error—that becomes a vocabulary you can use for creativity in a setting like this.

Ali Bahrami FardThis santur was built to remove limitations: it lets me move through many modulations and reach different frequencies, which matters when multiple musical cultures meet.
Circle of Resonance,hosted by Derya Türkan on Istanbul kemençe—an instrument she describes as "close to the human voice," capable of carrying both joy and sorrow—brings together a one-night circle of musicians at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (CRR), Istanbul.In this ensemble,Michel Godard (serpent—an early ancestor of the tuba, chosen for its voice-like intimacy and microtonal flexibility),Ali Bahrami Fard (santur—expanded across registers and built for wide modulation and cross-cultural tuning),Efren Lopez (a roaming palette of early and Mediterranean strings, moving between timbres as a composer-creator), andArto Tunçboyacıyan (percussion—"reactional" rhythm as lived philosophy) meet Derya's kemençe in a shared language of deep listening and improvisation.The music doesn't "blend genres" so much as it lets traditions speak to each other in real time—medieval European memory, Ottoman lineage, Anatolian modal thinking, and contemporary textures—held together by attention, space, and trust.The first performance at CRR is also being documented by Batu Akyol , following the project's origin story from pandemic-era conversations into a tangible, resonant gathering on stage.
Prepare for a night where improvisational mastery meets unique artistry, converging to redefine the boundaries of contemporary music. This unprecedented event brings together three masterful musicians on stage for the first time, each contributing their distinct talents to a groundbreaking fusion of sound.

Alex HitchcockWitness the “ridiculous technique and harmonic proficiency combined with progressive creativity,” as described by Linley Hamilton of BBC Jazz World. Ivor Novello-nominated saxophonist Alex Hitchcock melds intricate compositions with audacious improvisation, pushing the boundaries of what you know as music.

Jasper HøibyExperience the “lines between freedom and form beautifully blurred,” in the words of MOJO. Jasper Høiby, the creative force behind Phronesis, captivates with his bass rhythms as he blends rich harmonic textures with powerful narratives.

Robert Mehmet IkizFeel the pulse with Mehmet İkiz, described as a “nimble player and intriguing composer, conjuring harmonic patterns that generate compelling tension,” by The Telegraph. İkiz is known for his extreme versatility, having played and recorded all sorts of music from straight-ahead jazz to funk and pop.
Stone Nest is an arts organisation and performance venue in the heart of London’s West End, bringing exceptional and experimental art to a wide audience. A hidden gem nestled amidst the bright lights of theatreland, it offers a platform for bold, visionary artists and a space where audiences can encounter an eclectic programme of contemporary performances.
Batu Akyol is a documentary filmmaker and the initiator of BlurNotes. He approaches music the way he approaches film: by creating the right conditions and then stepping back. His role is to hold the space, bring people together, and allow the moment to unfold naturally. Curators may change from project to project, but Batu’s focus remains steady — careful listening, quiet coordination, and respect for the musicians’ process. He works behind the scenes to make sure what is captured feels honest and alive, trusting the encounter more than the plan.

Batu Akyol[Documentarian]He is a documentary filmmaker and cultural producer working at the intersection of music, story, and lived experience. His practice centers on creating environments where people can meet, listen, and reveal something authentic through collaboration.

Derya Türkan[Circle of Resonance Curator]For this gathering, each musician arrived with his own composition — personal, complete, and rooted in his own journey. They began truly speaking to one another for the first time during the soundcheck, through their instruments rather than words. Over the course of the concert, every piece was performed, yet each one evolved in the moment. The spaces between phrases, the spontaneous responses, and the subtle shifts in direction carried the music somewhere new — transforming familiar compositions into shared discoveries.

Derya Türkan[Electric Debut Curator]For Electric Debut, curator Mehmet İkiz brought together three distinct voices — saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, bassist Jasper Høiby, and himself on drums — in the resonant space of Stone Nest in London. Each arrived with his own musical identity and repertoire, and for the first time on the night of the concert they began to converse through sound in rehearsal. Their set unfolded through intricate compositions that dissolved into fearless, collective improvisation, shaped by deep rhythmic dialogue and harmonic tension. What emerged was not a collection of solos, but a shared moment where listening guided creation and electric energy met thoughtful interplay.