An eclectic mix of purist jazz infused with a dash of electro, new world music, folk and pop/rock will waft into the air over the Palace Courtyard, Valletta, tomorrow when the first Jazz Fringe event is launched.
Jazz Fringe is the creation of Andrew Alamango to respond to the dearth of local and international contemporary jazz, once the Malta Jazz Festival ceased to exist as a jazz-focused event and became more oriented towards rock over the past two summers.
Mr Alamango started off by creating Jazz Productions last summer, which worked on a small scale to promote this genre of music at the Bridge Bar in Valletta on Fridays. The sessions created such a spirit and atmosphere that Mr Alamango was spurred to go one step further.
"Past jazz festivals, which used to feature top international acts have meant that we now have high expectations. The Bridge Bar Fridays were our launching pad and now we moved on," he said in an interview.
"We felt there was a thirst to hear live jazz music and we are tapping this niche, by showcasing non-mainstream, European-jazz acts to local audiences otherwise absent in the local cultural calendar."
Mr Alamango plans to present a jazz-related event every season and he is already finalising another show for October, and then again for December.
Jazz Fringe, produced by Mr Alamango and jointly directed with Sandro Zerafa, will open tomorrow as part of the Malta Summer Arts Festival at 9 p.m., with another line-up on Saturday. It stars eight Maltese musicians, 15 foreigners and three bands.
The performers, award-winning international musicians active locally and on the Parisian jazz circuit, will present some of the most cutting-edge music within the genre.
Maltese musicians Mr Zerafa and Oliver Degabriele, who live abroad, will be flying in to take part in this event.
Friday's line-up includes the Synapse Trio with contemporary dancer Arnette De Mille, followed by the Julien Daïan Quintet and DJ Borz.
The name Synapse reflects the spirit of the group: numerous musical ideas bouncing back and forth. The Julien Daïan Quintet fuses various sources of inspiration: hip-hop, funk, electro and also Eastern European folk and rock. DJ Borz's presence fuses the group's multiple orientations into one powerful performance.
On Saturday there will be top pianist Dominic Galea and Co, and Sandro Zerafa's White Russian Quintet.
Known on the local scene for his work in piano composition and improvisation, Mr Galea will be presenting a set of be-bop jazz and Latin originals, with Doreen Galea as a special guest.
The music Mr Zerafa wrote for The White Russian Quintet draws on influences ranging from folk to free-jazz, Keith Jarrett to The Beatles, Ornette Coleman to Chris Cheek.
Tickets at Lm4 are available online from www.maltaticket.com or Agenda Bookshops, Exotique and Newskiosk.