Mix of genres aimed at wider audience

The 12th edition of the Malta Jazz Festival is expected to appeal to a wider market than ever this year with the blending of several genres.

The focus of this year's edition is Latin jazz, spiced up with Afro-Cuban, world music and traditional Amercian jazz.

Piano lovers are in for a field day: three of the finest pianists on the circuit are scheduled to perform.

The three-day festival is to be held at Ta' Liesse in Valletta between July 19-21.

Maltese pianist Paul Giordmaina will kick off the festival with a little help from his friends, with the Gonzalo Rubalcaba Project following suit.

The ensemble will conduct a swinging and soulful programme embracing their native roots of Cuban music.

McCoy Tyner, former member of the legendary John Coltrane Quartet and one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, will round up the first night.

The second evening kicks off with Jazz Fantasy followed by Diane Nalini Quintet, a young singer and dancer who is guaranteed to get the audience moving to an absorbing rhythm of jazz.

Nalini has performed before Paul McCartney and former US President Bill Clinton among others.

Clarinettist Don Byron, acclaimed as the 'Jazz Artist of the Year' by Down Beat magazine in 1992, will perform with his jazz ensemble.

Saturday's concert is expected to sign off in style with the deep rendering world music of Oregon, a band which has been on the scene since the 60s.

They are renowned for performing concerts with uncommon combinations of instruments in an eclectic variety of musical styles.

The final night will reassemble three bands who have left a mark on previous editions of the festival.

Arto Tuncboyaciyan, who is best remembered as the accompanying percussionist of Al Di Meola, will be playing with his Armenian Navy Bank on Sunday.

The Armenian Navy Band plays avante-garde folk music and is made up of 12 young artistes who represent the best of Armenian music.

Music fans may once again relish the magic of Michel Camilo, the pianist who last year teamed up with Spanish guitarist Tomatito.

Camilo and his trio will this year combine a rich blend of Caribbean flavours and Latin Rhythms.

Tuck and Patti have been given the honour of closing the festival.

Relying solely on the combined textures of Tuck's guitar virtuosity and Patti's extraordinary soulful voice, the husband and wife duo have left an indelible mark on the jazz scene.

Festival artistic director Charles Gatt said it had always been the organisers' intention to explore different styles, emotions and continents in an effort to satisfy both those who traditionally throng the festival and those who will be attending for the first time.

Farsons marketing manager Pierre Stafrace said there were still a number of misconceptions about jazz music - which in the last few years has grown to encompass Latin, blues, and rock music, making it accessible to everybody.

Director of Culture John Demanuele said that a change of venue from Ta' Liesse to the site of the Cruise Liner Terminal nearby will be considered for future editions.

Mr Demanuele said the reputation of the festival had grown to such an extent that the department had been inundated with inquiries about this year's edition from around the world.

A special programme on this year's edition is also planned for the UK's Jazz FM radio.

The website has also done wonders to attract foreigners to the event, which last year drew some 12,000 people.

Prices for the festival are Lm7 for one performance and Lm15 for the three evenings.

www.maltajazzfest.com