This year's edition of the Malta Jazz Festival, now in its 14th year, will be held between July 16 - 18, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts announced yesterday.
At an informal press briefing at Le Meridien Phoenicia, in Valletta, Culture and Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said the Malta Jazz Festival, in the historic setting of what has become its "traditional" venue at Ta' Liesse, in Valletta, has become one of the salient cultural points in summer.
Thanking the festival's major sponsors, Vodafone and Cisk Export Premium Lager, as well as Le Meridien Phoenicia and the American Centre, which are supporting the festival, the minister said the event will this year cost about Lm60,000.
It was only thanks to sponsors that the festival could be held, he added.
Asked how the festival was being marketed abroad, Dr Zammit Dimech said the marketing took place through the visitmalta.com website.
Paul Mifsud, the council's chief executive officer, said British and Dutch radios specialised in jazz were organising competitions whose winners would be able to travel to Malta for the festival.
He said ticket prices were being kept the same as last year - Lm7 for one performance or Lm15 for a weekend ticket (three evenings).
Starting at 8 p.m. every evening, the festival will bring together a line-up of top international jazz artists. It will also provide a platform for the Johann Strauss Big Band directed by Paul Abela, a group of upcoming local jazz musicians described by Charles "City" Gatt as "Malta's stars". They will perform on Friday.
Mr Gatt, the artistic director, said the festival had gained in popularity as it was not just for jazz lovers. "We try to get artists playing different jazz styles to please as many people as possible in a way that there is a little of everything for everyone," he said.
Geri Allen, one of the most celebrated jazz pianists, will perform on July 16 accompanied by the Timeline Electric Group, followed by the return of the Brazilian Joao Bosco e Grupo.
Also returning since their appearance in 2000 in Malta will be the renowned jazz band Yellow Jackets, comprising of keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and drummer Marcus Baylor.
On July 17, the programme kicks off with the duo Monica Salmaso and guitarist Paolo Bellinati followed by Dave Douglas, composer and trumpeter, and his Electric Band Freak In with DJ Olive. Award winners Randy Brecker and Bill Evans, who have formed their new group, The Souldbop Band, headline the Saturday night show.
On July 18, the night opens with dynamic singer Deborah Carter along with her Latin jazz trio, followed by guitarist John Scofield with Steve Swallow on bass and Bill Stewart on drums, a trio aglow with spontaneous invention. Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa will round off this year's festival with contemporary fusion inspired by traditional folk music of the Nigeria's Yorubaland.
www.maltajazzfest.com