Sekanjabin

TEMPO Lounge ~ Doors at 7 PM | Show at 8 PM

Don't miss this opportunity to catch 11+ piece international ensemble Sekanjabin as their singer Gulin Ciloglu tours the East Coast from Istanbul.

Sekanjabin infuses traditional Turkish music with rhythms and styles from around the world, re-imagined with not-so-traditional instrumentation. From salsa and flamenco to reggae and calypso, Sekanjabin breathes new life into centuries-old folk music. The group's ever-changing cast includes members from the US, Turkey, and Peru.

Front woman Gulin Ciloglu spends most of her time in Istanbul, but whenever she returns to the States, Sekanjabin assembles. The result is a unique, high-energy live show that spills over from the stage to the dance floor — a wild and unusual flavor, instantly refreshing and inspirational!

With two violins, accordion, reeds, an oud, world percussion, electric guitar, bass, and a full drum kit, Sekanjabin makes a big sound as only a large, skilled ensemble can. After years of playing together and adapting to every kind of performance environment, they sound great whether using one mic or many. What most people remember is the piquant, big-hearted charm of the woman with the microphone.

Sekanjabin does not play "traditional" Turkish folk music. The ethno-folk collective fronted by Gülin Çiloğlu draws from a trove of world-sourced melodies (many learned by Gülin as a child in Istanbul, others adapted from contemporary Turkish pop) and from rhythms the players taught each other: Turkish, Gypsy, Calypso, Cumbia and Cascara, bellydance, reggae, and more. It is hypnotic, ecstatic, celebratory, participatory, and musically rich. Pure, however, it is not.

The band was born of an improbable encounter in a New Paltz, NY coffee shop, where the grad student Gülin, newly arrived in the States, stumbled on a group playing "Garoon Garoon" ("Blue Beads"). She was invited to sing with them; moments later they moved to an open mic and performed publicly together for the second time, 15 minutes after meeting.

Ticket pricing:
- Advance tickets (online): $10 / $15 / $25
- Day-of / door price: $15, subject to availability

Choose the ticket that feels right for you. Every option supports Tempo in its own way, and we’re grateful to have you with us.

Event is in the TEMPO Lounge. Enter the building through the side door on Hunter St.