BaBa ZuLa have appeared a few times in this country, and even headlined the Theater Aan Zee (TAZ) in Ostend in the summer of 2011. And at Womex 2010 (that celebration of world music) they were fantastic. High time for a trip to Brussels then!
BaBa ZuLa (yes that’s how it is written) is an artistic collective, unafraid of musical, visual or ritual risk. The ecstatic result is a dazzling show, thanks (naturally) to the belly dancer, the action painting, the barmy orchestra and, of course, front man Murat Ertel, who does an unrivalled Oriental Zappa, especially with his saz. The comparison might not be fair (he’s also a bit like Les -Primus- Claypool), but let it serve as the thread to guide you through this delightfully mad show. Shall we try to describe it another way? Psychobelly (sic)?
BaBa Zula has been around since the mid '90s, but now reaches a more international audience thanks to the landmark documentary 'Crossing The Bridge - The Sound Of Istanbul'. It seems there is a swinging 'scene' on the Bosporus! And we now have the new CD 'Gecekondu', this time in association with an Asian Dub Foundation, Bugge Wesseltoft, Titi Robin... ‘Gecekondu’ has its niche in those little neighbourhoods that pop up and start growing. And the CD is out on the Essay label (the Shantel stable?) A bit too vague? Don’t take our word for it: best tested live!