Offbeat jazz at Ta' Liesse

Ta' Liesse in Valletta is all set for the biggest musical extravaganza of the summer with the 15th edition of the Malta Jazz Festival kicking off this evening.

John Zorn's Acoustic Masada is expected to provide this evening's highlight while the rest of the line-up is a blend of South American, tango, alternative and fusion, according to festival artistic director Charles Gatt.

"We believe we have something which should appeal to the masses every night," he said.

A founding member and saxophonist of the group Naked City, Mr Zorn's music over the last decade has incorporated other instruments and unconventional sounds from around the world. Readily admitting he has a short attention span, Mr Zorn constructs his music to reflect a fascination with fast-paced flow of information.

Another act that should thrill this evening is Richard Galliano, renowned as the direct heir to the legendary Astor Piazzolla. He interprets, composes and orchestrates music which seems to casually mix swing, echoes of tango, French bistro waltzes, Keith Jarrett improvisations and the Afro-American lessons of Charlie Parker.

His strength is his use of the accordion and the bandonéon, awkward instruments that have always had a difficult life in jazz and cultivated music.

Organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and sponsored by Cisk Export, Vodafone, Le Meridien Phoenicia and the American Centre, the festival kicks off at 8 p.m. with the Joe Debono Trio. Mr Debono has performed in several festivals, including Euromusica 2002 in Olympia.

The biggest obstacle to the jazz festival is, as always, the feast of St Joseph in the major traffic hub of Msida. For the past few years the feast has caused traffic bedlam with frustrated motorists having no choice but to endure long tailbacks as roads were closed until the fireworks were let off.

But Msida mayor Carmelo Grima said that few fireworks are expected be let off this year and that inconvenience to motorists should be kept to a minimum. He confirmed that the centre of Msida would, however, be closed.

When contacted, the Msida police said they were aware that fireworks would be let off on Sunday and therefore part of the Birkirkara bypass would actually be closed to traffic. In the meantime, motorists wait with trepidation.