From enthusiastic rock to quiet jazz at Salon

Enthusiastic rock and quiet jazz at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV's) venue Salon are together this week with Direc-t performing today, Yazz Ahmed on Dec. 15 and Sleep Party People on Dec. 16.

A local alternative group, Direc-t was formed by Bilge Kösebalaban, Özgür Peştimalci and Alex Tinaru. Having released three albums, the band has songs on compilations in Russia and Australia. Direc-t, which has performed at the Pohoda Open-air Festival in Slovakia and at the MidPoint Music Festival in the U.S., will perform Salon today at 9:30 p.m. for the launch of their new album.

Half Bahraini, half English jazz musician and trumpeter Yazz Ahmed has become one of the prominent figures of the British jazz world as both a solo musician and a composer. Having shared the stage with many musicians such as Toshiko Akiyoshi, Steve Williamson and Courtney Pine, Ahmed also performed on tracks by Radiohead, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Joan as Police Woman, Amel Zen and These New Puritans. She played flugelhorn on Radiohead's "The King of Limbs." Described as a rising star by Jazzwise and Time Out, Ahmed will perform at Salon on Dec. 15 at 9:30 p.m.

Danish dream-pop band Sleep Party People, one of the favorites at Salon, started as a project by Danish musician Brian Batz. Inspired by the work of Boards of Canada, David Lynch and Erik Satie, the band released their first, self-titled album in 2010. "We Were Drifting On a Sad Song" followed later. They reached more listeners with their Europe and Asia tours. The band will perform on Dec. 16 at 10:30 p.m. with the songs from their new album, "Lingering," along with their old hits. Tickets for the concerts can be bought from Biletix sales channels and from the İKSV main box office.