The 23rd edition of the Istanbul Jazz Festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), will host prominent jazz artists in the city once again from June 27 to July 25. The festival aims to attract jazz lovers to concert venues throughout the city and will welcome more than 200 local and international jazz artists and host about 50 concerts. Speaking at a press conference announcing the program, İKSV General Manager Görgün Taner commented on the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Ankara and Istanbul. "We have been through very hard days. Today, everyone who supported us, our friends and press members, are all here. We are proud that all of you will be standing by our side no matter what happens," he said. Taner stressed that İKSV believes in the healing power of the Jazz Festival along with other artistic events. "We care about talking, listening and understanding each other. All steps that are taken for this, especially if they are artistic ones, are very important for us," Taner added.After Taner spoke, Pelin Opcin, the director of the Istanbul Jazz Festival, offered insights about the festival program. "We are holding onto life. We did and continue to do everything we can to contribute to society, add a little color to life and make flowers bloom just like they blossom on our poster while undertaking this organization. We know that our audience will not leave us alone," she said.British musician Damon Albarn, who is the mastermind behind the animated music band the Gorillaz and front man of the cult British band Blur, and the Syrian National Arabic Music Orchestra are among the many prominent musicians featured in the festival program. As part of their "Africa Express" tour, the Syrian National Arabic Music Orchestra will also perform at the Netherlands Festival, Southbank Festival, Glastonbury and Cologne Philharmonic Hall. Commenting on the orchestra's much-anticipated performance, Opcin said: "It is not surprising for the Syrian National Arabic Music Orchestra to choose Istanbul as a destination of their tour because Turkey has a huge mosaic of cultures and opened its doors to its neighboring countries. In fact, what we are doing here is to highlight the fact that these values are as important as musical and cultural values; hence, we aim to reveal these values to music lovers." Opcin added that they tried to give as much space as possible to musicians from Turkey's neighboring countries, especially in the festival's special section "Meeting with Masters." "This year, we have become one of the most important platforms for this special project, and we count ourselves very lucky," she said.Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to well-known artists Özdemir Erdoğan and Ergüven Başaran on July 11. Başaraşan's band Swing UNLTD will give an exclusive performance following the ceremony. Erdoğan will then take over the garden at Istanbul High School on July 12 and give an unforgettable performance. Apart from songs such as "İkici Bahar" (Second Spring) and "Sevsim Seni Bir Kere" (I Loved You Once), Erdoğan will also sing new tracks featured on his latest album "Türkiye Jazz Tarihinde Işıksız Kalanlar" (Songs Left in the Dark in Turkish Jazz History).On June 27, the Syrian National Arabic Music Orchestra and Damon Albarn along with guest artists will perform, which will be followed by Nile Rodgers and Chic on June 28. Trumpet virtuoso Nicholas Payton and his band will share the stage with American vocalist Jane Monheit on July 13, the modern jazz virtuoso Kamasi Washington and Ibeyi will perform on July 14 and the French Quarter and Hugh Coltman will perform on July 15.On July 20, a creator of reggae and ska melodies, Jamaican artist Ernest Ranglin, will perform with his ensemble composed of Tony Allen, Courtney Pine, Cheikh Lo, Alex Wilson and Ira Coleman. The shining star of the British jazz scene, Joss Stone, will sing for Istanbulites on July 23, and Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter will share the stage with Roberta Gambarini and the TRT Light Music and Jazz Orchestra on July 25. Moreover, Cyrus Chestnut, Buster Williams, Lenny White, the Branford Marsalis Quartet with Kurt Elling, Antonio Sanschez with Migration and Scofield Mehldau Guiliana will perform at Zorlu Performing Arts Center as a part of the festival. Apart from Zorlu Center, 20 venues will host live concerts, including the German Embassy's summer residence in Tarabya, the garden of the Austria Culture Office, the Beykoz Shoe Factory, Bomontiada, the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-air Theater, Fenerbahçe Khalkedon, the garden of Istanbul High School, Küçükçiftlik Park, Sabancı University's Sakıp Sabancı Museum, İKSV Salon and Uniq Open-air Stage.