Gozo's outstanding Leone Band

The last chirping of the sleepy birds blended very well with the sound of pop and movie music by the Leone Band at Independence Square (It-Tokk), on Sunday evening, May 10. Their good-night song mixed beautifully with the two well known singers Pamela Bezzina and Mario Caruana and with the two soloists of the concert, David Portelli and Emy Vella. It was a splendid, relaxing evening indeed!

The Leone Band under the baton of Mro Colin Attard showed once more its capability to suit itself to modern music, which is really a beauty and is at heart of the modern world. The packed square of Gozitans, Maltese and tourists was a living proof of this! Mro Attard impeccably led, as only he knows how, the outstanding 80-piece band, which again chose a black T-shirt as uniform instead of the conventional one.

It turned out to be a really Big Band, including drum kit, percussion line and bass guitar. To this, we must add the top-notch visual projections and visual lighting entertainment.

The handsome and energetic compère, TV personality Jean Claude Micallef, stole the audience's heart with his conviction and skill. Hope to have him with us again in future activities of the Leone Band.

As far as the music was concerned, we had the pleasure to listen to movie themes by Michael Kamen, Henry Mancini, Dolly Parton, Charles Chaplain and, in the second part, to pop music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Demis Roussos and Dominic Grech and also to Italian songs like Azzurro, Mamma Mia, L'Italiano and Volare.

As expected, The Best of the Tramps (arranged by Mro Joseph Debrincat) was the most keenly awaited music of the whole evening. Pamela and Mario were at their best and gave an excellent interpretation! My good friend, the late Dominic Grech, is still very loved and his name is embedded deeply in our hearts!

Well-done, Leone. Keep it up! Now we look forward to October 10 for Verdi's Aïda!