Latif Bolat plays Turkish Folk Music and devotional Sufi songs which are called Ilahi and Nefes, from the Anatolian peninsula. The lyrics of Ilahis or Nefeses are taken largely from the great mystic poets Yunus Emre, Niyazi Misri and many other ancient troubadours of Turkey. The program also includes sacred ballads composed by Latif Bolat. Throughout the program, devotional poetry will be recited from 13th Century Sufi poets Yunis Emre, Rumi, and images of Turkish people and scenery will be reflected on a screen.

One of the most well-known Turkish musicians in the US, Bolat possesses a vast repertoire, ranging from Sufi devotional songs and Turkish Folk music to classical pieces. Now residing in Florida, USA and Turkey, Mr.Bolat has presented his music all across America, Canada, India, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Bulgaria, Turkey, Philippines, England and many other international locations. In addition to his Carnegie Hall concerts and lectures, he has recorded 4 very successful CDs, made many TV and radio appearances and composed music for the PBS Documentary “Mohammed: Legacy of a Prophet” and George Lucas’s TV series “Young Indiana Jones” and “Burn Notice”. He is also the co-author of a Turkish Sufi poetry book titled “Quarelling with God” which is published by White Cloud Books (Oregon, 2008)

Latif Bolat is a native of the Turkish Mediterranean town of Mersin. After receiving his degree in folklore and music at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, he taught traditional music throughout the country. He then went on to manage a musical theater company, which performed traditional musical plays. Mr.Bolat also received further degrees in Turkish History and Middle East Religion and Politics from Ankara University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.