John Legend

One of the best R&B and soul singer-songwriters of his generation, nine-time Grammy winner John Legend performs in Istanbul for the first time, as part of the 20th Istanbul Jazz Festival. Named one of Time magazine’s “100 People Who Shape the World” in 2009, Legend released his new Kanye West-produced single, “Made to Love,” late last month. Legend’s albums “Get Lifted” (2004) and “Once Again” (2006) topped the charts, so hopes are high for his forthcoming “Love in the Future,” expected in the fall. Though he hasn’t released a solo album in quite some time, he collaborated with The Roots on “Wake Up!” (2010) and recorded a song for the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino’s recent film “Django Unchained.” His use of African drums on “Made to Love” signals an interesting new direction.