Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Amerix Artists Genres and styles : Jazz / Singer-Songwriter / Tango Nuevo / Turkish Classical Year : 2020

Je suis ici

· by Alain Brunet

“I’ve travelled through many lives to get here.” Istanbul, London, Buenos Aires, Montreal… Irem Bekter has a long migration behind her and, obviously, she hasn’t said her last word. Living in Quebec since 2003, she pursues a multidisciplinary approach and puts forward here her musical talents, which are juxtaposed with drama and contemporary dance. This experienced artist has the desire to adapt to each stopover of her migration, without denying the previous ones. Thus, in this album aptly named Je suis ici, this seasoned singer can very well paste a French text by David McNeil on a classic by Astor Piazzolla, the unavoidable “Oblivion”. French lyrics by J-F Lamothe, Raymond Lévesque, and Sylvain-Claude Filion, not to mention her own (sometimes bilingual, sometimes English), are the backdrop to this intimate album, at the confluence of chanson, modern jazz, gypsy swing, tango nuevo and Eastern Mediterranean music. Here she calls upon pianist David Ryshpan, guitarist Michael Cotnoir, oud player Nazih Borish, accordionist Luzio Altobelli, double bassist Mathieu Deschenaux, and percussionist Bertil Schulrabe, a significant concentration of Montreal’s interculturalism. The songs are beautifully interpreted in this mixed context, whose acoustic instrumentation and production are reminiscent of the chansonnier approaches typical of the ’60s and ’70s.

Latest 360 Content

FIJM 2025 | Clown Core: the theatre of extremes, between Pennywise and Krusty

FIJM 2025 | Clown Core: the theatre of extremes, between Pennywise and Krusty

SUONI | Kalmunity: STARS SHINE DARKLY in a night of powerful words, words of love and raging roars, healing grooves and dissent manners

SUONI | Kalmunity: STARS SHINE DARKLY in a night of powerful words, words of love and raging roars, healing grooves and dissent manners

Suoni 2025 | Farida Amadou ++: an apotheosis of adrenaline discharge

Suoni 2025 | Farida Amadou ++: an apotheosis of adrenaline discharge

Serge Fiori’s Imprint (1952-2025)

Serge Fiori’s Imprint (1952-2025)

Suoni 2025 | Bozzini + Sarah Hennies: contrasts in post-minimalism

Suoni 2025 | Bozzini + Sarah Hennies: contrasts in post-minimalism

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Suoni | Contemporary Improvisation, Latin American Discovery

Suoni | Contemporary Improvisation, Latin American Discovery

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Suoni | Sanam, Beirut’s Eloquence on The Brink of Danger

Suoni | Sanam, Beirut’s Eloquence on The Brink of Danger

Francos | Honoring Slam With Grand Corps Malade

Francos | Honoring Slam With Grand Corps Malade

Orford Musique | A Common Thread: Beethoven

Orford Musique | A Common Thread: Beethoven

Suoni | Watch that ends the night records Quinton Barnes + Jason Doell & Naomi McCarroll-Butler + Liam Cole + Alex “Bad Baby” Lukashevsky

Suoni | Watch that ends the night records Quinton Barnes + Jason Doell & Naomi McCarroll-Butler + Liam Cole + Alex “Bad Baby” Lukashevsky

Francos | A Montreal 1st for Emma Peters

Francos | A Montreal 1st for Emma Peters

Suoni | My Thursday at the Suoni: Alex Lukashevsky, Cabaret Noir…

Suoni | My Thursday at the Suoni: Alex Lukashevsky, Cabaret Noir…

My musical garage: interview with Ziya Tabassian for the 11th edition of Garage Concerts

My musical garage: interview with Ziya Tabassian for the 11th edition of Garage Concerts

Subscribe to our newsletter