Black Sea Songs . Sanem Kalfa / George Dumitriu / Joachim Badenhorst

The music of this project is an intense exploration of traditional songs from the Black Sea geographic region. The creative Belgian clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst joins the Amsterdam-based duo Sanem Kalfa & George Dumitriu to offer us the flavours of old ottoman melodies in an original contemporary language, with fresh nuances of electronics and open improvisation. 

Turkish vocalist Sanem Kalfa and Romanian born violist, violinist and guitarist George Dumitriu have been playing together for 14 years and they have collaborated with many different musicians. When Joachim Badenhorst crossed their path in 2018, playing together felt like the most natural thing ever. It led to their lauded 2020 album Black Sea Songs on El Negocito Records. 

The original form of the songs, as performed hundreds of years ago, are the starting point of a contemporary interpretation. There are no written arrangements, only instant explorations – a concept characteristic to the Kalfa – Dumitriu duo and fully embraced by Badenhorst. 

Sanem Kalfa . voice, electronics
George Dumitriu . guitar, viola, electronics
Joachim Badenhorst . clarinet, electronics