News Desk
VALLETTA/DUBAI: The Malta Jazz Festival kicked off earlier this week – a staple in Malta’s cultural calendar which has for decades brought jazz performers from near and far to stunning locations in Malta and the capital city Valletta.
From the 8th to the 13th July 2024, the Malta Jazz Festival offered a musical experience featuring an eclectic mix of renowned international artists and local talent at unique venues around Valletta, with stunning views of the city’s Grand Harbour as its backdrop.
The Malta Jazz Festival is one of the oldest running music events in Malta, created in 1991 by Charles Gatt. Over the years, it has hosted some of the most important exponents of jazz music, some of whom have now passed into the annals of jazz history, including Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, Elvin Jones, Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Paul Bley, to name but a few.
While the trend in the major jazz festivals nowadays is to stray away from jazz and water down the jazz content in their line-ups, the Malta Jazz Festival strives to do the opposite, always achieving a balance between the erudite and popular aspects of this music.
This year’s edition of Malta Jazz Festival was headlined by five-time Grammy Award Nominated American Trumpeter Chief Adjuah; Walter Smith III Quartet whose frontman collaborated with Brazilian musical icons such as Chico Buarque, Guinga, Paulo César Pinheiro and Dori Caymmi; Something Else! and TRIO GRANDE.
The festival ALSO organised concerts at The City Theatre featuring leading Brazilian vocalist Mônica Salmaso, guitarist and band Tom Ollendorff Trio, and pianist with accompaniment Philippe Soirat Quartet. And the midday concerts returned once again, with performances by local musicians, taking place in the historic space of MUŻA, the National Museum of Art.
Also, this year, the festival featured a concert for younger audiences by Julie Erikssen, providing a fun and interactive introduction to the world of jazz at Spazju Kreattiv, Studio B (Music Room).
For more information about this year’s programme (www.festivals.mt/mjf).
The Malta Jazz Festival is organised by Festivals Malta, supported by The Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, and Visit Malta, and sponsored by GSD Marketing Ltd.
