The return of The Characters and Tribali's five-star performance yesterday week overshadowed The Wailers' Band performance. It was perhaps the expectations that both bands generated in their own way that led to a very good audience response. Not that the Wailers were bad, but somehow they lacked the impact that would have been expected from a legendary reggae band.
The Characters are indeed still alive and kicking and their old set of songs as well as their new numbers generated considerable interest. Tribali seem to have come of age. They exuded colour, improvisation and technicality, all rolled into one. It seems as if their Glastonbury experience has helped in no small way to achieve quantum leaps in such a relatively short time.
Chasing Pandora opened Saturday's edition of the Rock and Jazz Festival. Keith and Melissa and co. delivered what was expected of them, namely their recent songs, but they also included a few covers, not least a slow-burning version of The Beatles' Help and a more upbeat Teenage Kicks, that old Undertones' classic.
PP Arnold too lived up to expectations, at least to those who, like myself have followed her music ever since she hit the big time with First Cut Is The Deepest some 40 years ago. She was utterly superb on her recent songs which include the gospel-tinged Be My Judge, as well as some other 1960s and 1970s songs which she did with thanks to a little help from a few friends, which include Mick Jagger and the late Steve Mariott of the Small Faces. PP Arnold and Dr Robert also expressed their satisfaction at performing in Malta, this being their first collaboration together. They have just recorded a new album entitled Five In The Afternoon and Malta was indeed honoured to have such fine talent. Dr Robert may not be the most extraordinary Scottish songwriter around, but he has also done so much to revive the careers of the late Curtis Mayfield and, of course, the selfsame PP Arnold. This is the first time the two artistes have worked together, although neither is new to collaboration.
Written and produced by Dr Robert, Five In The Afternoon features 10 new songs of street soul and folky funkiness. There was so much chemistry when they delivered songs like Stay Now and I Saw Something.
Few would have thought that Nina Ferro would have shown so much verve and depth when she took the stage as the final act on Saturday. But then, no one should underestimate her either. She has been collaborating with many different talents over the past couple of decades - from Les Paul to Dave Sanborn, Chris Botti, Chick Corea, Eddie Floyd to Tony Bennett, Jim Cullum and The Commitments among many others. Such experiences were distilled in her performance which included songs like Blame It On the Youth as well as a few love songs like Give And Take and For The Love Of You. Since starting recording 10 years ago, Nina Ferro's career has been constantly moving in the right direction and her Malta performance simply showed what she is really made of.
Ivan Filletti also lived up to his very good reputation and his repertoire was ably delivered with passion and a good deal of experience, which like Tribali, was obtained from his endeavours overseas. Yes, those singing lessons did make a difference!
Zucchero's performance wrapped up the Jazz and Rock Festival and here was a talent who seems to be quite acquainted with stadium rock without reneging on his love for the blues, which he has been delivering with his own, winning formula. Bacco Per Bacco, Shine and Flying Away stood out from among the renditions he delivered from his latest album Fly, however, the crowd seemed to be more interested in his classic hits not least Accende Un Diavolo In Me, Overdose d'Amore, Diamante, and of course the pop ballad Senz' Una Donna. With artistes like David Sanchez on saxophone, Zucchero was in an irresistible mood, and indeed, Valletta Waterfront was really ebullient on that hot July night.
The Characters are indeed still alive and kicking and their old set of songs as well as their new numbers generated considerable interest. Tribali seem to have come of age. They exuded colour, improvisation and technicality, all rolled into one. It seems as if their Glastonbury experience has helped in no small way to achieve quantum leaps in such a relatively short time.
Chasing Pandora opened Saturday's edition of the Rock and Jazz Festival. Keith and Melissa and co. delivered what was expected of them, namely their recent songs, but they also included a few covers, not least a slow-burning version of The Beatles' Help and a more upbeat Teenage Kicks, that old Undertones' classic.
PP Arnold too lived up to expectations, at least to those who, like myself have followed her music ever since she hit the big time with First Cut Is The Deepest some 40 years ago. She was utterly superb on her recent songs which include the gospel-tinged Be My Judge, as well as some other 1960s and 1970s songs which she did with thanks to a little help from a few friends, which include Mick Jagger and the late Steve Mariott of the Small Faces. PP Arnold and Dr Robert also expressed their satisfaction at performing in Malta, this being their first collaboration together. They have just recorded a new album entitled Five In The Afternoon and Malta was indeed honoured to have such fine talent. Dr Robert may not be the most extraordinary Scottish songwriter around, but he has also done so much to revive the careers of the late Curtis Mayfield and, of course, the selfsame PP Arnold. This is the first time the two artistes have worked together, although neither is new to collaboration.
Written and produced by Dr Robert, Five In The Afternoon features 10 new songs of street soul and folky funkiness. There was so much chemistry when they delivered songs like Stay Now and I Saw Something.
Few would have thought that Nina Ferro would have shown so much verve and depth when she took the stage as the final act on Saturday. But then, no one should underestimate her either. She has been collaborating with many different talents over the past couple of decades - from Les Paul to Dave Sanborn, Chris Botti, Chick Corea, Eddie Floyd to Tony Bennett, Jim Cullum and The Commitments among many others. Such experiences were distilled in her performance which included songs like Blame It On the Youth as well as a few love songs like Give And Take and For The Love Of You. Since starting recording 10 years ago, Nina Ferro's career has been constantly moving in the right direction and her Malta performance simply showed what she is really made of.
Ivan Filletti also lived up to his very good reputation and his repertoire was ably delivered with passion and a good deal of experience, which like Tribali, was obtained from his endeavours overseas. Yes, those singing lessons did make a difference!
Zucchero's performance wrapped up the Jazz and Rock Festival and here was a talent who seems to be quite acquainted with stadium rock without reneging on his love for the blues, which he has been delivering with his own, winning formula. Bacco Per Bacco, Shine and Flying Away stood out from among the renditions he delivered from his latest album Fly, however, the crowd seemed to be more interested in his classic hits not least Accende Un Diavolo In Me, Overdose d'Amore, Diamante, and of course the pop ballad Senz' Una Donna. With artistes like David Sanchez on saxophone, Zucchero was in an irresistible mood, and indeed, Valletta Waterfront was really ebullient on that hot July night.