Great pianists have graced the stage of the Malta Jazz Festival in the past (to name a few: Herbie Hancock, Paul Bley, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner).

This year’s opening act promises to be one of the most important events in the Jazz Festival’s history and a major highlight in this year’s cultural calendar – Brad Mehldau has redefined the sound of the piano trio. Along with Mark Turner and Kurt Rosenwinkel (featuring as well in this year’s jazz festival) he is probably the most influential jazz musician to emerge in the last 15 years.

Brad Mehldau’s rhythmic inventiveness, his poetic understatement, and his reinvention of the piano trio repertoire has made him the pre-eminent pianist of his generation. As one critic pointed out, in his work we can find a conflict between jazz, rock and classical music. Mehldau takes on Nick Drake, Radiohead, The Beatles, Paul Simon, Oasis, Soundgarden, groups that have reshaped jazz and have reached a wide audience.

Thursday night will be closed by Orlando ‘Maraca’ Valle, a Grammy award winning Cuban artist. Maraca, a virtuoso flutist, started his career with the influential group Irakere, collaborating with Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D’Rivera, and Herbie Hancock. He is one of the most important Cuban artists of his generation. His performance is a must for lovers of salsa and latin jazz.

The festival will be held on 16, 17 and 18 July at Ta’ Liesse in Valletta. Tickets are available at www.maltaticket.com, and from any of the following outlets in Malta and Gozo: Exotique, Agenda, Vodafone, Bookends and Newskiosk. Gold numbered seat tickets are e20 per night. Silver one day tickets are e15. A silver ticket three day pass costs e30. Concession tickets for students and the senior citizens (only for the silver area) are e10 for a one day ticket and e20 for a three day pass. The festival’s website is www.maltajazzfestival.org.