Tom Harrell will perform as part of Colors of a Dream.Tom Harrell will perform as part of Colors of a Dream.

Tom Harrell and the Brecker Brothers are among the big names jazzing up the Valletta bastions in July as the final line-up for the 2014 Malta Jazz Festival was unveiled yesterday.

The 24th edition of the festival will take place between July 17 and 19 at Ta’ Liesse.

Apart from Tom Harrell’s sextet Colors of a Dream, which includes the winner of four Grammy awards Esperanza Spalding, and the Brecker Brothers Band Reunion called The Heavy Metal Bebop Tour, one of the festival’s hottest tickets is set to be Mehliana, featuring Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana.

Mehliana will mix jazz with electronica to create a trance-laden music, while French-born Laurent Coq will combine Caribbean and Creole influences with modern jazz piano.

While in the justice sector people were trying to stop change, in the culture scene everyone wanted to keep evolving

Emerging stars include vibraphonist Warren Wolf and Kneebody, while local musicians include the Paul Abela Quintet featuring Gabriele Comeglio, the Joseph Camilleri Trio, the Dominic Galea Trio and Francesca Galea, the winner of last year’s jazz contest.

Vibraphonist Warren Wolf.Vibraphonist Warren Wolf.

The festival has an eclectic programme with musicians that appealed to the masses and to niches, according to artistic director Sandro Zerafa.

The line-up was launched during a press conference where Owen Bonnici made his first public appearance as Culture Minister.

He told the press that, after five years shadowing the sector, and one year under another ministry, he felt he had returned home.

“During my time as shadow minister, several artistes approached me saying they felt they were not listened to and their opinions were not taken into consideration,” he noted.

Dr Bonnici promised to keep this in mind while he was at the helm, adding that artistes’ opinions had to be valued.

This festival, he said, was the perfect recipe as it merged local and foreign artistes who were well established and gave emerging artists an opportunity.

The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion is called The Heavy Metal Bebop Tour.The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion is called The Heavy Metal Bebop Tour.

Dr Bonnici, who is also responsible for justice, quipped that while in the justice sector people were trying to stop change, in the culture scene everyone wanted to keep changing and evolving.

Albert Marshall, who chairs the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, said that while in previous editions music had to stop at around midnight, arrangements had now been made for more flexibility and the music will continue beyond.

Tickets for the festival, organised by the by the council, cost €30 for a single day or €75 for a three-day block ticket.

Standing single-day tickets are also available for €20 while a three-day standing block ticket will cost €40.

However, those who book until the end of April will get a discount. More information at maltajazzfestival.org. The festival is supported by Fondazzjoni Ċelebrazzjonijiet Nazzjonali, the Malta Tourism Authority, MSV Life, Switch, Cyberpass, Phoenicia Hotel and Valletta 2018 Foundation.

 

Francesca Galea won last year’s jazz contest.Francesca Galea won last year’s jazz contest.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.