North Sea Jazz - Karsu Donmez

Karsu Dönmez (vocals, piano); Daniël Mester (flute, saxophone); Randell Heye (trumpet); Orville Breeveld (guitar); Timothy Banchet (piano); Thomas Pol (bass); Benjamin Rheinlander (drums).

Singer-pianist Karsu Dönmez is "only" 22 years old, but she has already appeared at many national and international venues, including three times at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall. She discovered the piano at a young age and played classical pieces as well as traditional Turkish songs and jazz numbers. She began to perform at her parents' Turkish restaurant in Amsterdam when she was a teenager. Her talent was soon noticed and the American embassy awarded her a scholarship to the University of Rhode Island. Dönmez writes, composes and arranges her own songs, which are influenced by a mix of jazz, blues, funk and ethnic music. She earlier released a live recording, Live Aan 't IJ, and her debut studio album Confession appeared last year to widespread critical acclaim. She debuted at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2010 and this year she is visiting for a second time.