Jazz or no jazz?

I have tried to resist not writing about the transformation that is taking place in the Malta Jazz Festival as I have been personally involved in performing on five different occasions, but no matter how hard I tried not to pen my protest, at last my dedication for the art has won.

I do not want to dwell on this year's line-up as I think people have enough sense of maturity to be able to single out the difference of levels and musicality presented to us under the pretence of jazz this year.

No matter how hard the new organisers try, or what they do or say, they should not try to embark on a journey of false pretensions and use big words to try to convince people about the standard of music presented to us, again under the style of jazz.

It would have been more ideal for them to use a different name than to take advantage of the reputation and goodwill earned by the Malta Jazz Festival over the years. I have a German drummer friend who has visited the island at the time of the Jazz Festival for several years. What shall I tell him when he sees this year's line-up? I mean no harm to what's left of the festival or its new organisers, but I think they have entered a blind alley, which is happening often on our island.

It is a great pity that Charles "City" Gatt who, for many years dedicated long hours to give us a three-day treat of great musicality, has been brushed aside for a cultural event to become just another money-making business venture. Money, art and culture do not mix.