The artistic director of the Malta Jazz Festival has expressed fears of a lower turnout to the concert at Ta’ Liesse in Valletta on July 18 because it clashes with the concert by tenor Joseph Calleja on the Granaries in Floriana.

The Calleja concert will also feature X-factor winner Leona Lewis and Italian singer Claudio Baglioni, among others. On the same day the Jazz Festival will host one of the most important musicians in the history of jazz – Brad Mehldau, with his new project Mehliana

And also on the day, Hastings Gardens will be hosting the seventh edition of the Marsovin Summer Wine Festival.

Artistic director Sandro Zerafa said the Malta Jazz Festival has been held on the third weekend of July since 1991.

“I start booking the artists as early as September, which is fairly normal when booking world-class artists like those we have at the Malta Jazz Festival,” he said. He had not been aware of the Calleja concert at that stage.

Asked whether he was concerned that sound from the three events would overlap, Mr Zerafa said this would not be an issue at Ta’ Liesse.

NnG Promotions director Nigel Camilleri said July 18 was the only day all artists could make it for the Calleja concert.

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