Latin lovers fill the Bedestan at night of music and dance
THE Classic Quartet entertained at Alsancak’s Soulist Coffee and Music House on Sunday, with a repertoire of classical and jazz numbers, as well as Cypriot songs sung in a classical style.
The foursome’s second appearance at the venue drew a large audience who were given complimentary “home-made” cookies. Owner Alper Cengiz, also a musician, said: “It was nice to have a classical concert . . . in a warm and cosy atmosphere, which was different to the usual halls which host these kinds of concerts.
“I want to continue to organise jazz, blues, classical, soul and rock ’n’ roll concerts that are different to the usual events taking place around the island, and believe this will be a contribution towards developing the community’s musical culture.” HISTORIC walls of the capital’s Bedestan turned a fiery red as Latin music lovers filled the floor while dancing to live music by Estrellas Latinas de Chipre.
A variety of Latin music was performed by the orchestra at the free entry event on Wednesday night last week which saw the audience first sit and enjoy the show before getting up and dancing in pairs. Starting out as Latino Turco in 2001, the orchestra reinvented itself last year with a new name and the addition of more local musicians and dancers, including the expat’s favourite saxophonist, Ivan Lavrentev.
Students of dance schools also attended the concert, dancing to the band’s extensive repertoire featuring salsa, bachata and cha-cha-cha. Arkın Sayar was on vocals, singing in Spanish, English and Turkish. Maestro and guitarist İbrahim Çetiner, flautist Mehmet Sakarya, trumpet player Gökhan Açıkgöz, trombonist Ahmet Altay, bass guitarist Hüsnü Doğacan and “Ivan the Sax” Lavrentev make up the rest of Estrellas Latinas de Chipre.