An eclectic line-up has been announced for the 22nd edition of the Malta Jazz Festival which will include Grammy-award winner Terri Lynne Carrington and world-class guitarist Al di Meola.
Artistic director Sandro Zammit said the programme ensured a “perfect blend” between popular acts and “jazz purists” – a blend which the Maltese festival had always striven to achieve.
The three-day festival, which hopes to attract more than 1,500 people each night, will be held between July 19 and 21 at Ta’ Liesse in Valletta.
On the Thursday, Al di Meola will return with a performance featuring virtuoso pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, who has eight Grammy nominations under his belt. The night will also feature the Jeremy Pelt Quartet and the local trio of Paul Giordimaina.
The Friday will see the Tigran Hamasyan Trio, which finds inspiration from traditional Armenian folk music and drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, whose album Mosaic Project has just won a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Jazz Album. Her performance will feature top jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves as a special guest.
The festival will close on Saturday with a fusion of flamenco and jazz by Chano Dominguez as well as the Will Vinson Quartet, very popular on the New York jazz scene. Local acts Carlo Muscat and Alex Bezzina will also perform on the night.
The line-up was announced yesterday by Mr Zammit in a press conference.
At the start of the press conference, Culture Minister Mario de Marco paid tribute to the late Fr Peter Serracino Inglott, saying he was a “culture giant” who inspired a generation of intellectuals and artists throughout his life.
Dr de Marco said he hoped Valletta could become known for its jazz festival just like Umbria, Perugia and Montreux.
Malta Council for Culture and the Arts chairman Adrian Mamo thanked the sponsors for making the event possible and said this year’s event would be marketed in the UK, Italy and Germany.
A series of events will be held in the days before and after the festival around Valletta, which will include master classes, more intimate gigs and other activities, coordinated by Andrew Alamango.