At a press conference announcing the festival yesterday, artistic director Charles Gatt explained that jazz is now reaching a wider audience with the introduction of a blend of different styles, such as rock and pop. It is fast becoming a discipline that does not cater only for an elite group of people, he said. People have opened their minds to understanding this style of music, which is apparent from the festival’s popularity.

Over the years, the Malta Jazz Festival, organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, has featured a line up of jazz legends, including Elvin Jones, one of the best known drummers in the field, who died last week. Mr Gatt said audience numbers have steadily increased over the years and with strong support from the media, the festival is now considered a major event in Malta’s culture calendar.

He said that along with internationally renowned artists like Geri Allen, the Brazilian Joao Borco e Grupo and the Yellow Jackets, a young Maltese group, the Johann Strauss Big Band, under the direction of Paul Abela, will be making their debut on the first day of the festival.

The festival, estimated to cost Lm60,000, could not be put on without the help of sponsors, said Mr Gatt, and Vodafone, Cisk Export, the Meridien Phoenicia and the American Centre had all made an important contribution to this year’s event.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech explained that the prestige and prominence given to this cultural event also has a pivotal role in the tourism industry as the festival draws international jazz enthusiasts to our island.

“This festival, with its historical setting, has become one of the salient cultural points during the Maltese summer as it shows that Malta has more to offer tourists, in terms of culture and art, than sun and sea,” the minister continued. Dr Zammit Dimech also said that the Malta Jazz Festival is a perfect example of public-private partnership in the cultural field as both the government and the private sector have an interest in increasing tourism to Malta.

The festival begins at 8pm every evening. Tickets, costing Lm7 for one night and Lm15 for all three performances, are available from the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, Republic street, Valletta (telephone No. 2124-5168) and from the venue prior to performances.

For more information visit www.maltajazzfest.com