[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 64 (Monday, May 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMEMORATING THE FOUNDING OF TURKEY'S FIRST JAZZ DEPARTMENT

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                         HON. DONNA F. EDWARDS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 3, 2010

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 
the establishment of Turkey's first Jazz Department within Hacettepe 
University's prestigious Ankara State Conservatory. In the words of H. 
Res. 57 introduced by the Hon. John Conyers of Michigan during the 
100th Congress, Jazz is ``a unifying force, bridging cultural, 
religious, ethnic and age differences in our diverse society.'' This 
introduction of jazz education in Turkey further demonstrates the 
sweeping influence of this national treasure and its power to build 
bridges extending beyond our shores.
  I am honored to have been in attendance, along with my colleagues the 
Hon. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky and the Hon. James P. Moran of Virginia, 
at a gala reception on April 2, 2010 celebrating this department's 
inception. There could not have been a more fitting time to recognize 
the launch of the Ankara State Conservatory's Jazz Department than at 
the beginning of Jazz Appreciation Month. Without the insight and 
collaborative efforts of Hacettepe University's American Studies 
Department, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, and the Turkish Coalition of 
America this momentous occasion would not have become a reality.
  As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am proud to have had 
the opportunity to witness first-hand another culture's deep 
appreciation for this over a century old African-American tradition. 
With its origins in the American south, Jazz is a musical genre that 
marks a confluence of African and European music traditions. Its 
melodic union of styles, sounds, and improvisation has inspired 
musicians around the world. At the gala reception held in Ankara on 
April 2, my colleagues Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Moran, and I were treated to 
a musical set by the Melis Sokmen Quartet. In addition to being a 
renowned Turkish jazz singer, Ms. Sokmen is the personification of her 
country's famed bridging of cultures. Born to a Guinean mother and 
Turkish father, Ms. Sokmen's pride in her roots beamed in particular 
during her jazz rendition of traditional West African lullaby 
``Malaika.''
  One cannot mention jazz without referring to the invaluable 
contributions of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The son of a 
Turkish Ambassador father and a mother who filled their house with 
music, Ahmet and his brother Nesruhi became fans of blues and jazz at 
an early age while residing in Washington DC. The first ever integrated 
concert in Washington DC featuring jazz greats Duke Ellington and Lena 
Home came about due to the efforts of the Ertegun brothers. Atlantic 
Records was established in 1947 and over the next several decades 
produced albums by jazz legends including John Coltrane, Charles 
Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie, and Wilbur de Paris. The Turkish fascination 
with jazz is attributable not only to the genius of the music itself 
but Ahmet Ertegun's success in helping it evolve into an 
internationally renowned art form.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in congratulating all 
parties involved in the development of the inaugural Jazz Department at 
Hacettepe University. Hacettepe University and the U.S. Embassy's 
Public Affairs section have commenced a faculty exchange program in 
which jazz specialists from both countries will work and learn from one 
another. The joint effort of American and Turkish individuals and 
organizations in its establishment is a testament to over sixty years 
of enduring friendship between the United States and Turkey. Through 
shared appreciation of the arts these two great nations have formed yet 
another vital and resilient bond.

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