For the second year running, Fringe! Productions, is celebrating this two-day international festival of jazz within The Malta Arts Festival, with musicians from Europe and beyond. In the botanical surroundings of Argotti Gardens, Jazz Fringe! 08 will showcase the variety of jazz forms today, by presenting some of the more prominent names on the European circuit. Jazz Fringe! 08 aims to present this diversity to local audiences and expose them to the most prominent and current trends of music on the international jazz circuit.

Berlin’s Christoph Adams piano playing and versatility has elicited the interest of many well-known musicians such as Woody Shaw, Lew Soloff, Perry Robinson, John Taylor Lonnie Plaxico and the like. After intense touring and recordings with these names, as composer, pianist and arranger, Christoph focused on his own projects. Adams has found his own style and musical language, being placid and gentle yet incredibly dynamic. Having already released four CDs as a bandleader, his latest production Bossa no piano pays tribute to his special love, Brazilian music. Christoph will open the second day of the festival today at 9pm.

The closing act features one of the most important figures to emerge from the contemporary Italian jazz scene and winner of the much-coveted Massimo Urbana Prize. Nico Gori is also a most welcome voice on one of jazz’s less-played instruments, the clarinet. Firmly anchored in the bebop tradition but with a penchant for innovation, Nico’s versatility has led him to become one of the most sought-after musicians in European jazz circles. This project unites him with Maltese guitarist Sandro Zerafa.

For additional information, please consult the Malta Arts Festival programme, as well as www.myspace.com/jazzfringe.