Bio
Café Aman Istanbul was formed in 2009 after a long period of preparation, by Stelios Berberis and Pelin Suer. Consisting of virtuoso musicians, the group aims to combine various schools of authentic Rembetiko in a new presentation.
Not only with their songs, sung in both Greek and Turkish, but with period costumes as well, Café Aman Istanbul takes their audience back to the 19th century. Inspired by the Ottoman fasil tradition, Café Aman Istanbul breathes new life into rembetiko music with their unique style, which they call Fasl-i Rembetiko.
Presenting an authentically-based but new take on rembetiko, Café Aman Istanbul will appeal to listeners from all backgrounds; with their exciting dance presentations they turn their concerts into a visual celebration as well.
Café Aman Istanbul chose their name from the 19th century Café Aman* culture which they are striving to revive.
In addition to rembetiko, the group plays Ottoman fasil music, Turkish semi-classical music and Byzantine music, both religious and secular, which they present within the scope of new and unique projects.
* The “Amane Cafes,” also known as “Café Amans,” brought together singers and instrumentalists from differing ethnic cultures, who performed their repertoires with heavy emphasis on improvisation, musical sharing and interaction. These venues, which sprang up in cities like Istanbul, Izmir, Athens, Thessaloniki and New York, took their name from the Turkish exclamation “Aman Aman” which was frequently repeated in between the words of songs. Breathes new life into this musical culture on the verge of extinction, Café Aman Istanbul’s goal is to revive the Café Aman tradition.
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