A strong advocator of freedom of musical expression, Tehran-born vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mahsa Vahdat will share the stage with Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen, Iraqi-American trumpeter Amir ElSaffar and percussionist Fahrettin Yarkın as part of the Istanbul Jazz Festival's Encounters with Masters concert series on Thursday. The Iranian musician is largely influenced by contemporary music and traditional music of Iran. Freemuse, an independent organization defending freedom of expression for musicians and composers, describes Vahdat as a fabulous example who is against "all pressures that the conservative sectors of Iranian society put on woman musicians." Melding Middle Eastern musical languages with jazz and other styles of contemporary music, trumpeter ElSaffar will open the concert with his "Two Rivers" project, which invokes ancient Iraqi musical traditions framed in a contemporary jazz setting. When: July 9Where: Courtyard of Istanbul High School