Jazz Festival line up announced

As in past years, the Festival will showcase the contemporary jazz scene, which this year will focus on the world music element. Musicians from Brazil, Jamaica, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Africa will be present on the stage.

The Festival opens with Benin guitarist Lionel Loueke, a Blue Note recording artist and a frequent collaborator of Herbie Hancock. His particular blend of jazz and African elements will be followed by one of the highlights of this year's Festival, Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express.

In a career spanning five decades, Monty has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz and reggae, the music of his native Jamaica.   

Contemporary cutting-edge New York jazz has always been a highlight at Ta’ Liesse, and this year it’s the rising star Ambrose Akinmusire, another Blue Note recording artist and a winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. He will feature on 15 Friday, in a double-bill with the charismatic Brazilian legend Joao Bosco, a must for lovers of samba, bossa-nova and MPB.

Another familiar name on the New York scene featuring this year is sax player Seamus Blake, yet another laureate of the Thelonious Monk competition, who will be presenting his new electro/groove project featuring drummer Jorge Rossy.

The Festival will close with virtuoso bass-player/vocalist Avishai Cohen, whose blend of jazz, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences has made him a prominent figure in world of jazz today.

Local talent will be represented by vocalist Nadine Axisa, the Argotti Jazz Ensemble (with musical direction by renowned musician Dominic Galea) and the quintet of guitarist Marc Galea (featuring saxophone player Robin Nicaise).

The Festival is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts under the artistic direction of jazz musician Sandro Zerafa.

For more information visit www.maltajazzfestival.org or send an email to [email protected].