When most people think of Turkish tradition, they usually think dervishes and bearded men drinking tea in a Mosque, not DJs with mohawks in a concert hall. But last night at Shibuya's Theater Cocoon, Instanbul's Mercan Dede proved that these two seemingly disparate facets of Turkish society dovetail into an electrifying live show.
Located in Shibuya's Bunkamura center, Theater Cocoon isn't your typical live house. With a 2-level balcony, proper stage and carpeted lobby, this is where one usually sees more conventional performances of dance or classical music. The crowd reflected these traits: I spotted more jewelry and sport coats than shorts and sandals, but found it refreshing to see young socialites mingling with old hippies - the crusty and the upper crust under one roof, as it were.Mercan Dede's music certainly speaks to both. His roots in Sufi traditions attract world music buffs, while his skills as a DJ and producer draw out club kids the world over. 
The curtain rises with Dede behind the decks, flanked by a clarinetist, percussionist, and two robed men sitting cross-legged on plush Persian rugs. To the side sits a harpist, the tones of his strings not unlike a Koto. Dede acts as both DJ and conductor, playing the flute and various finger cymbals while leading his trio through beat-ridden passages and into extended ambient atmospherics. Like the ocean noises that began the show, Dede and company's music rises and recedes in swells of cinematic drama, each number evoking both Sufi spirituality and urban nightlife.
It's not long before the first few rows empty out to dance in the aisles, and it's apparent that many of these nubile revelers are belly-dancing students. Dede is thrilled with this, and says as much. Strangely, though he leads the group straight into a more somber piece, which forces the dancers to return to their seats. Not long after however, the men on the carpet stand to dance, and to my surprise, as they step onto the stage I can see that they were not men at all but beautiful women! (I was in the balcony). Yet instead of belly-dancing, these women performed the transcendent dance of the whirling dervishes. Like Dede's decks, they spun in place, their clothes fluttering around them as if invisible children pulled at their edges. Through intense clarinet and tabla solos, they turned, seemingly unaware of the cacophony around them.Dede and crew were called back for two encores. His willful eclecticism may be criticized by Turkish conservatives, but his mix of past and future is truly hypnotizing. And if that breaks with tradition, then so be it. |
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report by jinki and photos by hanasan |
| Festival Konda Lota 2006
2nd Oct. : Faiz Ali Faiz / Kayhan Kalhor 3rd Oct. : DuOud with Abdulatif Yagoub / Gnawa Diffusion 4th Oct. : Mercan Dede & Secret Tribe |
 mag files : Mercan Dede & Secret Tribe Sufi Cool: Mercan Dede Sends Us Spinning : (06/10/04 @ Tokyu Bunkamura Theater Cocoon ) : review by jinki, photos by hanasanphoto report : (06/10/04 @ Tokyu Bunkamura Theater Cocoon ) : photos by hanasan |
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The official site Mercan Dede & Secret Tribe http://www.mercandede.com check him? --> 
The latest album  "Breath" (UK import) |
previous works "Su" (国内盤 / US import / UK import)
"Kingdom of Heaven" (US import)
"Sufi Traveler" (US import) "Seyahatname" (UK import) "Nar" (UK import) "Journeys of a Dervish" (US import / )"Sufi Dreams" (US import) check the albums? |
 2006Sufi Cool: Mercan Dede Sends Us Spinning : Mercan Dede & Secret Tribe (4th Oct. @ Tokyu Bunkamura2003CD review : Last Heaven's Bootleg : Thee Michell Gun Elephant (26th Dec.)2002interview : Have Guitar... Will Travel : Melissa Ferrick (5th Jul.)interview : Hate Machine: The Parkinsons Come Out Swinging : The Parkinsons (5th Jun.)The Fat of the Land : FatBoy Slim Kicks Off : Fatboy Slim & Boom Boom Satelites (1st Jun. @ Makuhari Messe)Still "Perfect"... : Eddi reader (20th Mar. @ La Foret Musium Roppongi)interview : A Singing Angel Sings Free... : Eddi reader (20th Mar.)interview : 聞く人の心を揺さぶりたい... : Eddi reader (20th Mar.)Multi-ethnic Music-monsters, Ozomatli! : Ozomatli (14th Mar. @ Shinjuku Liquidroom)interview : Here come the people's music again! (JPN) : Ozomatli (24th Feb.)interview : Here come the people's music again! (ENG) : Ozomatli (24th Feb.)Ahh, Natalie, Natalie... : Natalie Merchant (6th Feb. @ Harajuku Laforet)Come on up, hipstars! : Katteni Shiyagare (3rd Feb. @ Shimokitazawa Basement Bar)2001The band to watch for in the future... : The 3peace (30th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)-->... and more |