Now in its third edition, the Ftakar concert has successfully given a breath of fresh air to some of the best-known numbers the Maltese songbook has to offer. It also unearthed a few long-lost tracks that, thanks to the Big Band Brothers’ revamped arrangement, have been given a new lease of life.
Once again staged as part of the Malta Arts Festival, the third edition of this now-annual event was held at the Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta, a fitting location for such an event – the combination of fleeting melodies, a hint of nostalgia and the starry night sky a perfect setting for the occasion.
This time around, the Big Band Brothers, as always under the direction of Daniel Cauchi, took their concert up a notch by bringing in a touch of the new alongside the old in the shape of popular rock band Red Electrick.
Although their repertoire is in English, as opposed to Ftakar’s Maltese set list, the blend of contemporary rock versus big band worked a treat, injecting a rather fitting dash of extra oomph into Red Electrick’s songs, the best example being Who the heck is Rek?
Another special guest was pianist Kris Spiteri, who stepped in for a cameo on the somewhat poignant Il-Funeral tal-Lingwa Maltija.
This year’s concert paid tribute to Joe Friggieri, a prolific poet, playwright and songwriter with an extensive body of work, of which his most popular is probably the Songs of Malta album, written with the late Mro Charles Camilleri.
The electric rendition of his Il-Festa was only outdone – in my opinion – by the amazing bass and vocals presentation of Taħżiż, wherein bassists Eric Wadge and Ivan Borg beautifully rolled out the song’s deep tones.
And to make the occasion all the more special, the Big Band Brothers surprised us all by performing an exclusive new song, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, which Friggieri penned especially for this concert.
Elsewhere, one has to mention the entertaining a capella rendition by the big band of Dawra Durella, the cute vocal interludes of young Sean Azzopardi, of whom we will probably hear more when he grows a bit older, and the rendition of Dominic Galea’s Aħna li ma Mmorrux fuq Xarabank, which I would absolutely love for one of the contemporary Maltese acts to adopt, adapt and extend to their own particular audiences.
Personally, my favourite moment of the concert was San Niklaw for the way its arrangement exuded both a romantic yet critical angle, capturing all that is so enticing about the Maltese song in both melody and lyrics.
Overall, I have to say that Ftakar 3 was everything I expected it to be and more – an entertaining evening celebrating the Maltese song with a little bit extra thrown in for added value.
Well done brothers and all!