GARANTİ BBVA Meltem Ege “Solitude”

From the pen of Thierry de Clemensat, writer for Paris Move magazine:
” Solitude , the latest work by Turkish-born, Los Angeles-based vocalist and composer Meltem Ege, is one of those rare pieces that evokes a sense of timelessness from the very first note. Opening with a vocal improvisation shaped by breath, approaching scat, the album draws the listener into an intimate yet boundless sound universe; it draws from the roots of jazz, but does not limit itself to its boundaries.”
It’s impossible to define this album with a single genre label. If a genre is to be mentioned, it is Meltem Ege herself. Ege is an artist who doesn’t shy away from playing with jazz forms; she reshapes them with her own highly personal perspective and takes them into new contexts. Solitude , consisting of eight original compositions recorded between Turkey and the United States, not only offers a feast for the ears; it also embarks on an exploration of identity, memory, and emotional geography. More than a collection of songs, the album is also an artistic manifesto.
Ege, who received piano training and was immersed in the world of jazz vocals during her musical development years at Bilkent University and Berklee College of Music, later broadened her horizons at the California Institute of the Arts, focusing on experimental music and theatre. This approach, which blurs the lines between genres and disciplines, forms the basis of her work today: whether composing complex chamber music pieces, performing solos accompanied by electronic textures, or turning to avant-garde opera. Currently teaching full-time at CalArts, Ege demonstrates with Solitude that she is still an artist undergoing intense creative transformation.