The life of singer Roza Eskenazi (c.1890s–1980), one of the most important stars of rebetiko, illustrates well how the music travelled naturally between communities. She was born in Istanbul to a poor Jewish family, grew up in Thessaloniki, eloped with a wealthy Greek from a central Anatolian family, and was picked out by Armenian musicians in Athens because she spoke Turkish. Roza Eskenazi also typi­fied the mortissa character – who appears in the songs Trava Vre Manga Kai Alani and Sto Kafe Aman and who gives this album its title. Mortissa was a woman who enjoyed drinking, smoking, singing, dancing and the company of men, but who, even in those eco­nomically harsh and socially restrictive times, was also strong, free and independent enough to get up and go.Çiğdem Aslan (pronounced ‘Cheedem’), born in Istanbul to Kurdish parents from Turkey’s Alevi community, has always understood the ethnic mosaic that makes up modern Turkey. It was a singing house­hold, and through her university years studying Eng­lish literature she performed folk songs in Turkey’s different languages as part of a project to shine a musical spotlight on Anatolia’s minority cultures. Moving to London to study music, Çiğdem began to sing with local Balkan band Dunav, established in 1964 well ahead of the current trend, as well as becoming an integral member of the award­winning She’koyokh Klezmer Ensemble. As part of She’koyokh she has won plaudits for the “clear, natural ease” with which she sings (Songlines Magazine) and her “no-nonsense from the heart passion” (fRoots Magazine). The latter is really the only thing that matters in a singer.

hese are songs with histories. Not so much the history of the characters featured in the Greek and Turkish lyrics – the young woman longing to escape from her veil, the cook Katarina, whose barbecued köfte is the better than the rest, or the Robin Hood figure Mehmet Efe fêted in the song Çakıcı – but rather of those who sang them in the cafes and wine houses, prisons and hash dens of Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Istanbul and other urban centres during the 1920s and ‘30s. It is music that harked back to the time before the Greeks were expelled from the elegant, relaxed port city called Smyrna in Greek and Izmir in Turkish. Without a doubt the song writers, musicians, and those who joined in singing raucously with them were dreaming of their forever­lost life on the sparkling blue Aegean coast, where they got along for better or worse with their Turkish­speaking neighbours under the shadow of the fading Ottoman Empire, and where they had comfortable homes and a community that was as ancient as, well, the Anci­ent Greeks. In the ‘motherland’ of mainland Greece, they found themselves as refugees with a strange accent, treated as outsiders and a shunned under­class. This was music to lighten the load, to forget your troubles, to laugh – and cry.The extent to which the roots of the music that later came to be called rebetiko are Turkish or Greek, Anatolian or Mainland, is disputed. It is clear, how­ever, that the so­called smyrneika style looked back to the music that had been played not only by Turks and Greeks, but also Armenians, Jews, Levantines and others in that fated Aegean port town. In all, in the early 1920s, well over a million Greeks were com­pelled to move to mainland Greece and 100,000s of ethnic Turks were resettled from Greece to the new Turkish Republic. Taking few possessions, songs were one thing no one could steal from them. Louis de Bernière’s book Birds Without Wings recounts the loves, lives and tragedies of ordinary Greek­ and Turkish­speaking residents of a small town in south­western Anatolia affected by the distant events of the First World War that led to the rift between their communities. Says Iskander the Potter, one of the Muslim characters, “Man is a bird without wings, and a bird is a man without sorrows”. These are songs that have survived and risen above the sorrow; they are songs with wings.

T With this album Çiğdem Aslan steps onto the international stage as a bright young star. Mostly recorded in North London, an area to which both Turks and Greeks have gravi­tated as if they couldn’t bear to be apart, pro­duction was not rushed so as to get it ‘just right’ with musical ideas springing up along the way. We hope the long­awaited and scin­tillating final result will introduce Çiğdem to a wide audience, and the songs to many who have not explored this fascinating, historically­charged and socially­loaded musical genre. A full translation of the lyrics is included, so that the listener can enter into the pathos, the love­lorn pain, the feisty comedy and day­to­day­ness of the songs.Çiğdem and friends do not take a purist approach by slavishly trying to copy archive recordings. Some tracks use double bass, steel­string guitar, Turkish bağlama, clarinet or Greek laouto as well as the more usual instruments of smyrniac rebetiko – which were santur, violin and oud. Three of the tracks feature the dynamic and sensitive playing of the She’koyokh Klezmer Ensemble, and as a result Trava Vre Manga Kai Alani has klezmer and even swing influences. Under the guidance of musical di­rector and kanun player Nikolaos Baimpas, respect is paid to the original shellac 78s,

which were released from the 1920s onwards on labels such as Berlin­based Odeon, later taken over by Columbia. However, the arrange­ments on this album are in a sense being true to the makeshift, popular spirit of the songs – open to all kinds of instruments and musical ideas, whatever you could bring to the party. It is an album that has come together around the gorgeous and characterful voice of Çiğdem Aslan, with dear friends who have earned their musical stripes by living music with a passion and whose playing as a result communicates authenticity and joy. This album is a work of love by all who have given of themselves to it. We hope you’ll feel the love, and love it too.

1. Aman Katerina Mou (Oh My Katerina) 4:26

2. Vale Me Stin Agalia Sou (Take Me In Your Arms) 3:44

3. To Dervisaki (Little Dervish) 4:53 4. Bir Allah (One God) 3:23

5. Pane Gia To Praso (Out For Leek) 2:47

6. Trava Vre Manga Kai Alani (Away With You, Manga) 3:29

7. Ferece (Veil) 3:35 8. Nenni (Lullaby) 5:20 9. Çakıcı 3:50

10. Sto Kafe Aman (At The Cafe Aman) 3:14

11. Uşaklı Kız (Girl from Uşak) 4:16 12. Kanarini (Canary) 4:28

13. S’agapo (I Love You) 5:16

Cıvıl cıvıl gelir sesi, köşedeki lokantanınBir işveli ki sahibi, Ah Cevriye, güzel hanımÇoktan beri sevdalıyım

Aman Cevriye Hanım, Kuzum Cevriye HanımGüzel gözlerin aklımı başımdan aldıAh yok mu işvelerin şarkılı güzel sesinKestane gözlerin beni dertlere saldı Oταν περνώ για να σε ιδώαχ πώς με βασανίζειςέχεις κεφτέδες στη φωτιάαχ, Κατερίνα μου γλυκιάκαι γλυκοτηγανίζεις

Αμάν Κατερίνα μουκούζουμ Κατερίνα μουτα παραπονάκια μου θέλω να στα πωμάτια σαν τα κάσταναμ’ έβαλαν στα βάσανακι όλο από την πόρτα σου θέλω να περνώ

Her yaptığın olay olur, peşinde bin sevdalı varMangaldaki köftelerin cız etmez şu kalbim kadarUmutsuz aşığınım ben

Aman Cevriye Hanım, Kuzum Cevriye HanımGüzel gözlerin aklımı başımdan aldıAh yok mu işvelerin şarkılı güzel sesinKestane gözlerin beni dertlere saldı Κάνεις ωραία σκορδαλιάβάζεις περίσσιο λάδιστην ταραμοσαλάτα σουη σάλτσα η ντομάτα σουπου βάζεις στο πιλάφι

Αμάν Κατερίνα μουκούζουμ Κατερίνα μουτα παραπονάκια μου θέλω να στα πωμάτια σαν τα κάσταναμ’ έβαλαν στα βάσανακι όλο από την πόρτα σου θέλω να περνώ.

A cheerful, chirpy voice drifts from the corner eatery. The flirtatious owner Cevriye, what a beauty! Long have I loved her!

Oh Miss Cevriye, dear Miss Cevriye, your beautiful eyes have bewitched me.Your coquettishness and sweet melodic voice, your chestnut eyes have got me into trouble. When I pass by to catch sight of you, ah, how you torture me!You have meatballs on the grill,ah, my sweet Katerina, you are sweet-frying! Aman, my Katerina,my beloved Katerina,This is my complaint:Your eyes like chestnutshave got me into trouble!Now I always want to pass by your door.

Everything you do is a marvel,You’ve thousands of lovers after you. Those meatballs on your grill don’t sizzle as much as my heart, Ah, I’m your lover without hope.

Oh Miss Cevriye, dear Miss Cevriye, your beautiful eyes have bewitched me.Your coquettishness and sweet melodic voice, your chestnut eyes have got me into trouble. You make a delicious garlic dip!You put extra oilin your taramosalata,and what a tomato sauceyou put on the rice!

Aman, my Katerinamy beloved Katerina,This is my complaint:Your eyes like chestnutshave got me into trouble!And now I always want to pass by your door.

composer / Greek lyrics: Panagiotis Toundas, Turkish lyrics: Cengiz Onural, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Çiğdem Aslan: vocals / chorus, Guy Schalom: darbuka / riq, Meg Hamilton: violin, Nikolaos Baimpas: kanun / mandolins & mandolas / chorus, Paul Melas: guitar / vocals, Paul Tkachenko: double bass / mandolin, Sevtap Işık, Tahir Palalı: chorus

Aman Katerina Mou – Αμάν Κατερίνα μου – Cevriye Hanım

Oh My Katerina

To Dervisaki – Το Δερβισάκι Είμαι ένα δερβισάκι, αχ το λέγω Που το διώξαν απ’ τη Σμύρνη κ’ όλο κλάιγωΚαι το ρίχνω στο μεθύσι και φουμάρω και χασίσιΣτο καφέ αμάν, αχ γιαβρί μ’ αμαν

Όταν παίζω ταξιμάκι μερακλώνωΤην πατρίδα μου θυμάμαι κ’ όλο λιώνωΠότε φτώχεια, πότε πλούτη, Παίζω με μεράκι ούτι Στο καφέ αμάν, αχ γιαβρί μ’ αμαν

Little Dervish

I’m a little dervish, ach, I tell you, who was thrown out of Smyrna.I can’t stop crying.All I do is get drunk and smoke hashat the Cafe Aman. Ach, my dear, aman! When I play a little taximi I get full of passion;I remember my homeland and I melt.Sometimes rich, at other times poor,I play the oud with feeling at the Cafe Aman.Ach yavrum aman, ach I’m burning aman!

traditional from Smyrna, arrangement She’koyokh,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Matt Bacon: guitar, Meg Hamilton: violin, Susi Evans: clarinet, Pavlos Carvalho: bouzouki

Vale Me Stin Agalia Sou – Βάλε με στην αγκαλιά σου Βάλε με στην αγκαλιά σου για να κοιμηθώ κοντά σου

Βάλε με, φως μου, βάλε με και πριν να φέξει βγάλε με

Μη φοβάσαι τη μαμά σου, βάλε με στην κάμαρά σου

Βάλε με, φως μου, βάλε με και πριν να φέξει βγάλε με

Βάλε μ από το πορτί σου για να κοιμηθώ μαζί σου

Βάλε με, φως μου, βάλε με και πριν να φέξει βγάλε με

Βάλε μ από το ντουβάρι, μη μάς πάρουνε χαμπάρι

Βάλε με, φως μου, βάλε με κι από τη μάντρα βγάλε με

Take Me In Your Arms

Take me in your armsso I can sleep near you.

Take me, my light, take meand let me out before dawn.

Don’t be scared of your mama,take me into your room.

Take me, my light, take meand let me out before dawn.

Let me in through your little doorso I can sleep near you.

Take me, my light, take meand let me out over the fence.

Get me in over the wall,so they don’t notice us.

Take me, my light, take meand let me out over the fence.

composer / lyrics: Vangelis Papazoglou, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Cahit Baylav: violin, Nikolaos Baimpas: kanun, Paul Melas: guitar, Paul Tkachenko: double bass,

Philippos Demetriou: spoons / riq, Tahir Palali: oud

Bir Allah – μπιρ Αλλάχ

Σαν βγαίνει ο Χότζας στο τζαμίΑργά σαν σουρουπώνειΚι όταν θα πει το μπιρ Αλλάχμπιρ Αλλάχ το στήθος μου ματώνει

Τέτοια στιγμή σε γνώρισαστα μακρινά τα ξέναΚι όταν ακούω μπιρ Αλλάχμπιρ Αλλάχ ο νους μου πάει σε σένα

Στα βάθη της Ανατολήςστη μαύρη ερημιά μουΌταν ακούω μπιρ Αλλάχμπιρ Αλλάχ ραγίζεται η καρδιά μου

One God

When hodja goes out to the mosque,late, when night falls,and when he chants the Bir AllahBir Allah, my heart bleeds. That’s the moment I met you,far away in a foreign land,and when I hear the Bir AllahBir Allah my thoughts turn to you. In the deepness of Anatolia,in the dark desert,When I hear the Bir AllahBir Allah, my heart bleeds.

Bir Allah means ‘One God’ in Turkish. The song was such a success that it became composer Stamoulis’ nickname. Although Bir Allah belongs to the laïkó tradition, a commercialised version of rebetiko, it retains the feeling of old rebetiko songs with timbres from Asia Minor.

composer: Ioannis Stamoulis, lyrics: Charalambos Vasileiadis, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Nikolaos Baimpas: baglama, Odysseas Elia: bouzouki, Paul Melas: guitar, Paul Tkachenko: double bass, Philippos Demetriou: beads

composer / lyrics: Manolis (Dimitris) Chrysafakis, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas, Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Paul Melas: guitar, Pavlos Carvalho: bouzouki, Philippos Demetriou: spoons, NIkolaos Baimpas: santouri

Pane Gia To Praso

Ρε συ Νότη πρασατζήπάμε τσάρκα ρε μαζίμες στην αγορά θα πάμεεκεί (έξυπνα) θα τα κονομάμε

Εγώ πρώτος θα φερμάρωΝώτη να σε αβαντάρωμηχανή εγώ θα φτιάσωγια να φας εσύ το πράσο

Κι αν μας πάρει κανείς πρέφαδίνομε κι αυτού τη ρέφαγια να μην μας την καρφώσειστα λαγωνικά μας δώσει

Γιατί μες την αγοράείναι τα λαγωνικάπου στ’ αμίλητα σ’ αρπάνεκαι στην τούφα σε πετάνε

Out For Leek

Hey Noti, leek seller,let’s go for a walk together.We’ll go to the marketand make some sweet money.

I’ll first suss things out,to prepare the ground, Noti. I’ll set up a diversion so you can grab the leek.

And if someone rumbles uswe’ll give him a shareso he doesn’t grass on us and hand us over to the dogs.

Because in the marketthat’s where the dogs arewho pick you up without a word and throw you into jail.

Trava Vre Manga Kai Alani – Τράβα βρε μάγκα και αλάνι

Μη περάσεις απ’τη γειτονιά μουμάγκα μη σε ξάναδω μπροστά μου,έμαθα μεσ’το Πασαλιμάνιπ’αγαπάς μια μόρτισσα βρ’αλάνι Τράβα βρε μάγκα και αλάνι,τράβα για το Πασαλιμάνι Απ’τη μόρτισσα γλυκά φιλάκιακάθε βράδυ γλέντι και χαδάκια,και έτσι την περνάς μαζί της φίνακαι ξεχνάς ν’ανέβεις στην Αθήνα Τώρα πια βρε μάγκα για να ξέρεις μ’έχασες για πάντα δε θα μ’έβρεις, θα γλεντάω μεσ’το Καλαμάκι κάθε βράδυ μ’ένα χασαπάκι.

Away With You, Manga!

Don’t come by my neighbourhood,You rogue, I want you out of my sight!I learned that in Pashalimaniyou fancy a mortissa, you layabout!

Away with you, you rascal!Get lost and go to Pashalimani!

Sweet kisses with the mortissa,every night fun and cuddles,having a fine time with her,you forget to come back to Athens.

Away with you, good-for-nothing manga!Get lost and go to Pashalimani!

From now on, you scoundrel, so that you know,You’ve lost me forever, you won’t find me.I’m going to have fun in Kalamaki – every night with a young butcher!

Away with you, you jinx!Get lost and go to Pashalimani!

No one word translates the colourful Greek word ‘manga’, which meant a proud, wheeling and dealing type with plenty of attitude, a swagger to his step, and usually sporting a carefully groomed moustache.

Ferece – Φερετζέ

Φερετζέ φορώ, γιαβρί μου να τον βγάλω λαχταρώ, θέλω τη θερμή σου αγκάλη, αμάν, αχ, μερακλή, για να γείρω το κεφάλι, αχ σεβνταλή.

Τώρα θα γελώ, γιαβρί μου, που `βγαλα το φερετζέ, θα γλεντήσω στις ταβέρνες αχ, μάγια μου `κανες, θα γλεντήσω με λατέρνες, αμάν, συ με τρέλανες.

Χρόνια λαχταρώ, γιαβρί μου, το χαρέμι για να βγω, που με κλείσαν οι αγάδες αμάν, αχ, μερακλή, οι αγάδες κι οι πασάδες, αχ, σεβνταλή.

Veil I wear a veil, my lover,but dream to take it off. I want your warm embrace, aman, ah my passionate one.so I can rest my head, ah my love.

I’ll laugh with joy, my lover,now I‘ve taken off my veil.I’ll have fun at the tavernas, ah you put a spell on me,I’ll have fun to the sound of the laterna*, aman, you’ve made me crazy. For years I’ve been longing, my love,to leave the harem,where the agas have closed me away, my passionate one,the agas and the pashas, ah my lover.

* a kind of mechanical piano similar to a barrel organ, typical in Greece and invented in Constantinople.

composer / lyrics: Kostas Skarvelis, arrangement: She’koyokh,

performed by She’koyokh, Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Matt Bacon: guitar, Meg Hamilton: violin, Paul Tkachenko: double bass, Susi Evans: clarinet

traditional, arrangement: She’koyokh,performed by She’koyokh, Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Matt Bacon: guitar, Meg Hamilton: violin, Paul Tkachenko: double bass, Susi Evans: clarinet, Vasilis Sarikis – darbuka, finger cymbals

Nenni

Güzel kızım EvdokiamIpek saçlarına altın tokalar takayımNenni

Aslan oğlum Haris’imBüyüsün de binsin atına,Atının yelelerine altın sırmalar takayımNenni

Vasili’m Vasili’m yiğit Vasili’mGözlerim yolda sen gurbettesin

Ύπνε που παίρνεις τα παιδιά έλα πάρε και τούτο Να μου το πας στον γκιουλ­μπαξέ και πάλι φέρε μου το Νάνι, νάνι, νάνι, νάνι το μωράκι μου να κάνει Έλα ύπνε, πάρε μού το και γλυκά αποκοίμισέ το

This is the most famous song about an outlaw known as Çakıcı Mehmet Efe, who fled to the mountains after his father was killed by Ottoman troops. Such outlaws were known as zeybek or efe, and, like Robin Hood, were seen as protecting common people against over bearing authority. Çakıcı is pronounced ‘Chuckehjeh’.

traditional, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Nikolaos Baimpas: kanun, Paul Melas: guitar / vocals, Paul Tkachenko: double bass, Cahit Baylav: violin; Tahir Palali: Anatolian baglama / davul

The Turkish lyrics are taken from ‘Evdoksia’ by Ismail Keskin, a novel about a little girl (Keskin’s grandmother), orphaned during the population exchange and adopted by a Muslim family who changed her name to ‘Hediye’ which

means ‘gift’.

music and Greek lyrics: traditional, Turkish lyrics: Ismail Keskin, arrangement: Cigdem Aslan & Tahir Palalı,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Tahir Palalı: fretless guitar / kopuz

Çakıcı (İzmir’in Kavakları)

İzmir’in kavaklarıDökülür yapraklarıBize de derler ÇakıcıYakarız konakları

Selvim senden uzun yokYaprağında düzüm yokKamalı da Zeybek vurulmuşÇakıcı’ya sözüm yok

Çakıcı

Poplar trees of Izmirwith leaves falling down, they call us Çakıcı. Ah, my dear sapling, we burn mansions to the ground.

My willow, there is none taller than you, your leaves are smooth.Kamali the Zeybek is shot deadI have no words for Çakıcı.

Lullaby

My beautiful daughter, my Evdoksia, goldenhairpins have I for your silken hair. Hush. My lion son, my Haris, grow up, ride your horse;golden braids have I for your horse’s mane. Hush. Vasilis, my Vasilis, my valiant Vasilis, my eyesare gazing at the road and you are far away. You, Hypnos, who takes children to sleep,come take this one too, take itto Gülbahçe, and bring it back to me after.Sleep child; come Hypnos take it, send it gently to sleep.

Sto Kafe Aman – στο καφέ αμάν

Είμαι μια μόρτισσα, μικρή, καμωματού, τσαχπίνα, που τραγουδάω στο καφέ αμάν και την περνάω φίνα, χορεύω τσίφτι τσέφτελι κι όμορφο ζεϊμπεκάκι, με βλέπουν όλοι πίνουν και μεθούν και σπάνουν νταλκαδάκι.

Μα ένας απ’ την αγορά, όμορφο χασαπάκι, μου λέει μ’ έκαψες, μανούλα μου, με το τσιφτετελάκι, θέλω να γίνεις ταίρι μου, βρε όμορφο κουκλάκι και πάντοτε να ξεύρεις θα μασάς αρνίσιο κεφαλάκι.

Κι άλλος μου λέγει με καημό, βρε, είμαι ψαραδάκι, έλα με μένα, πάντα να μασάς μπαρμπούνι με μουστάκι, δε θέλω εγώ ρε σεβνταλή, θέλω να ’μαι τσαχπίνα, να τραγουδάω στο καφέ αμάν και να περνάω φίνα

At The Cafe Aman

I’m a little mortissa, playful and fickle.I sing in the Cafe Aman and have fun,I dance tsifteteli and a beautiful little zeibekiko.Everyone watches me, they drink, they get drunk and let their pain out.

One of them in the market, a handsome little butcher,says to me, “You burnt me with your tsifteteli.Be mine you little doll, and you’ll always have a tasty lamb’s head to chew.”

And a young one tells me, in anguish, “Hey, I’m a fisherman;come with me and you’ll always feast on red mullet with its moustache.”

But I don’t want any man hooked up to me, I want to play, to sing in the Cafe Aman and have fun.

composer / lyrics: Kostas Skarvelis, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Guy Schalom: darbuka / riq, Makis Baklatzis: violin, Nikolaos Baimpas: kanun,

Nikos Angousis-Doitsidis: clarinet, Paul Melas: guitar, Paul Tkachenko: double bass, Vasilis Lemonias: cello, Vasilis Sarikis: riq

Uşakli Kız

Uşaklı kız, Uşaklı kız Kiraz gibi dudaklı kızArtık gelin oluyorsunBaşı telli duvaklı kız

Değerli kız, değerli kızOn parmağı hünerli kızArtık gelin oluyorsunBaşı telli duvaklı kız

Girl from Uşak

Girl from Uşak, girl from Uşak,girl with lips like cherries,you’ll soon be a bridein an embroidered lace veil.

Precious girl, precious girl,girl with countless talents,you’ll soon be a bridein an embroidered lace veil.

This song is dedicated to my beautiful and talented nieces Zeynep, Íklim, Dünya and Kader

traditional, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Guy Schalom: darbuka / riq, Makis Baklatzis: violin, Nikolaos Baimpas: kanun / baglama,

Nikos Angousis-Doitsidis: clarinet, Paul Melas: guitar, Paul Tkachenko: double bass

Kanarini – Καναρίνι – Sıra sıra siniler

Sıra sıra siniler Hasta olan iniler Aldı gitti yarimi Denizdeki gemiler

Sana hic kıyamamYar seni severim candanBakışların pek yaman Benim cilveli kanaryam

Καναρίνι μου γλυκόσυ μου πήρες το μυαλό, το πρωί που με ξυπνάς όταν γλυκοκελαηδάς.

Έλα κοντά μου στην κάμαρα μου αχ ένα βράδυ στη αγκαλιά μου

Suya giderim suya Elmayı soya soya Kaldır yarim peçeni Göreyim doya doya

Canary

Row on row of table-trays,brothers ailing away,they took my love and left,those ships at sea.

From you I can’t part,Oh, I love you with all my heart.Your gazes, they pierce me,my coquette canary.

My sweet canary, my mind you’ve seized, waking me every day with your sweet singing.

Come close to my room,in my arms you’ll be soon.

I go to the sea,an apple I peel.Love, lift your veil, your face I desire to see.

traditional, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Guy Schalom: darbuka / riq, Meg Hamilton: violin, Nikolaos Baimpas: kanun,

Paul Melas: guitar / vocals, Paul Tkachenko: double bass

S’agapo – Σ’αγαπώ Σ’αγαπώ γιατί ‘σαι ωραίασ’αγαπώ γιατί ‘σαι ωραίασ’αγαπώ γιατί ‘σαι εσύ

Κι αγαπώ κι αγαπώ κι όλο τον κόσμοκι αγαπώ κι όλο τον κόσμογιατί ζείς κι εσύ μαζί

Το παράτο παράθυρο κλεισμένοτο παράθυρο κλεισμένοτο παράθυρο κλειστό

Άνοιξεάνοιξε το ένα φύλλοάνοιξε το ένα φύλλοτην εικόνα σου να δώ

I Love You

I love you, I love you because you are beautiful; I love you because you are you.

I love, I love the whole world because you live in it.

Your window, your window is closed; your window is shut.

Open, open one panel of it, so I can see your image.

traditional, arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas,Çiğdem Aslan: vocals, Guy Schalom: bendir, Nikolaos Baimpas: santouri, Paul Melas: guitar,

Paul Tkachenko: double bass, Philippos Demetriou: bells, finger cymbals

‘Mortissa’ is a testament to the idea that songs are the best storytellers. It is ingrained in me through my roots that songs are the most powerful way to keep a story alive and for it to transcend itself to tell a different story for every listener; thus making them timeless. The songs in this album not only tell the story of a poignant place and time, but also trace a journey through my own life and mark the significant times at which these songs made their way into my heart and made an eternal place there. I hope that they will continue to call forth

new stories and make places in new hearts.

I am deeply grateful to all the musicians who performed on this album for their hard work and friendship; especially Nikos Baimpas and Pavlos Melas for their commitment, great spirit and enthusiasm; to Tahir Palali for everything he has done for the album and me; to She’koyokh for everything they are and for re­recording the songs at nine in the morning(!); to Sebastian Merrick for believing in me and initiating this recording and for his help throughout; to Helmut Neumann for waiting patiently for me to finish things; to Ismail Keskin for the lovely lullaby and for his help with lyrics; to Pavlos Carvalho for being part of this project from the beginning; to Cahit Baylav for being in my life and for opening new doors for me in London; to Brenna MacCrimmon and Erol Mutlu for sharing their experiences with me; to Sudden Exit, to my family; to Istanbul and London; and to my close friends in London, Greece and Turkey for

their constant love, support and encouragement.

LoveCigdem

While writing the notes for Mortissa in June 2013, Turkey experienced demonstrations that started over the redevelopment of Gezi Park in Taksim Square in Istanbul but became an impassioned stand for personal and democratic freedoms. Brave, but ordinary, young women stood out as an important part of the demonstrators. This album is dedicated with great respect to all of those strong, independent-minded mortissas, and particularly to Lobna Al Lamii, who has worked tirelessly to promote Turkey’s folk music, and who, whilst

peacefully protesting, suffered critical head injuries from a gas canister fired by police.

Recorded in London by Joe Leach and Tim Burns (Cowshed Studio), Muharrem Karaer (Playground Studio), and Chris Morphitis (Limehouse Studio),and mixed by Jason Emberton, Westbourne Studios, London;except Nenni, recorded and mixed by Tahir Palalı and To Dervisaki, recorded and mixed by Davide Salvietti (Hijaz Studio).

mastered by Jason Emberton, Westbourne Studios, London, 2013

liner notes by Sebastian Merricktranslations by Çiğdem Aslan, Paul Melas, Sebastian Merrick and Zeynep Rosa Cavcavphotos by Tahir Palalı, photo p.4 by Sevil Kotan artwork by Claudia Bachmann

produced by Çiğdem Aslan & Nikolaos Baimpas management: info@kazum.co.uk

booking contact: asphalt tango production, Berlin, Germanyphone: +49 (30) 2858528 · e­mail: booking@asphalt­tango.dewww.asphalt­tango.de

liner notes by Sebastian Merricktranslations by Çigdem Aslan, Paul Melas, Sebastian Merrick and Zeynep Rosa Cavcavphotos by Tahir Palalıcover by Tahir Palalı artwork by Claudia Bachmann executive production by Helmut Neumann & Henry ErnstMade in Germany

& © 2013Asphalt Tango Records GmbH, Berlin, Germany e­mail: records@asphalt­tango.dewww.asphalt­tango.de

More outstanding music on www.asphalt­tango.de and in all fine record stores.