Friends,

I had a lovely trip to Turkey and Greece this last month.  It was a study vacation of sorts and I have returned to the States with new compositions, friendships and inspiration.  It warmed my heart to be with old friends and deepen old relationships.  I had a fruitful meeting with Tolgahan Çoğulu in Istanbul and will be putting the finishing touches on a piece to be recorded for his microtonal guitar.  I studied with three wonderful musician-teachers Harris Lembrakis, Hakan Talu and Evgenios Voulgaris.  Thank you to Refik Algan and friends, Dimitris Malanos and family, Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma, Eleftheria Daoultzi and Mania Asimakopoulou for their awesome hospitality and friendship.  Truly, I’ve been blessed to spend time with such beautiful musician-humans the last weeks.

Things back home have been moving along.  In August I made a trip to Cedarhouse Sound in NH and laid down yaylı tanbur, ney, bass and vocals on some of Lua Hightower‘s beautiful new tracks.  It was such a pleasure to sink into the ilahi/zhikr pieces and get with Lua’s energy.

Çeşni Trio is giving a few concerts before the end of the year.  Please come and check out this relatively new ensemble featuring myself, Tev Stevig and Fabio Pirozzolo.  The trio plays original compositions and arrangements based in Turkish art music and folk traditions and branches out from there. We play two dates with Brooklyn based Dolunay: 11/11 @ The DAC in Denmark, ME and 11/12 @ Club Passim in Cambridge, MA.  We will play as part of the Mandorla Music Series on 12/2 @ Third Life Studio in Somerville, MA.  In addition to these, we continue our monthly residency @ Outpost 186 in Cambridge, MA: 9/28, 10/26, 11/23 and 12/28.

Orkestra Marhaba is always up to something.  We have some Sema/Ayin performances this fall as well as one offs throughout New England.  Check the website for specific dates.

Then there’s the band that keeps me on the move… In the last few months Ameranouche has been throughout the Northeast, Mid-West, Colorado and New Mexico and Canada.  Thanks to all the friends that have kindly hosted us and come out to the concerts.  We continue the touring life off and on throughout the fall and are trying to finish up a record in the spaces between.

Lastly, I’m looking forward to getting back with my students after a month away.  They continue to inspire and bring me joy.  Music is not found in instruments, but in the transmission between hearts.

May it be easy and full of love.

-Mike