Thousands gather in Valletta as American guitarist stages the perfect opening for the three-day highlight of Malta’s musical calendar... And what a night it was!

A bumper crowd showed up at Ta’ Liesse in Valletta for the first night of the Malta Jazz Festival on Thursday,to watch legendary guitarist Al Di Meola give an impeccable performance.

It was the perfect opener for a three-day festival that has become one of the main highlights of the musical calendar on the island.

“It’s great to be back to play in a picture postcard setting,” the 58-year-old American guitarist told the thousands who gathered on the night.

For two hours, Di Meola’s World Sinfonia and guest pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba strummed a blend of jazz and world music before inviting the crowd to dance for his closing classic Mediterranean Sundance.

The evening began to the sounds of local piano maestro Paul Giordimaina and his trio featuring special guest Rino Cirinnà, followed by the Jeremy Pelt Quintet.

Last night it was the turn of the Tigran Hamasyan Trio to bring music to the Valletta seafront, as well as Terri Lyne Carrington’s The Mosaic Project featuring special guest Dianne Reeves.

The festival comes to a close tonight, starting with Carlo Muscat/Alex Bezzina Project featuring Joe Debono, Màtyàs Szandai and Lionel Boccara, followed by the Will Vinson “The World Through My Shoes” Quartet and closing with the Chano Dominguez Flamenco Sketches.