The dynamic duo Renzo Spiteri and N’faly Kouyaté will be teaming up once more to present an energy-packed performance in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund, under the distinguished patronage of President Edward Fenech Adami and Mrs Fenech Adami.
The versatile Maltese percussionist, renowned for his innovative style, and the charismatic West African kora and balafon master, will be presenting their ongoing collaborative work at the Verdala Palace, Buskett on 2 September, during an open-air concert that has been described as “an amazing fusion that ran like a seamless thread during a two-hour performance” (A. Storace, The Times, 4 February 2006).
“The premier performance of this collaboration, entitled Chants, was held in Malta last January”, Mr Spiteri remarked.
“The success of this concert has encouraged us to present the project again locally, and this date will precede our participation in a festival in South Korea that is scheduled for towards the end of the same month.
“N’faly and I are looking forward to presenting new material that we have been working on during the last few months, as well as some of our compositions that were so well-received during the January concerts. The venue that has been selected will surely contribute towards making this event a great success,” said Mr Spiteri.
N’faly Kouyaté, originally from the Republic of Guinea, has performed in various international festivals and events, including Montreal, Montreux and Francofolies at Spa, and is also a core member of the world-famous Afro Celt Sound System. He plays very old traditional West African instruments – the kora (a harp-lute) and balafon (African xylophone) – and, through his performances, draws on his ancestry and uses music and story-telling as a way of opening doors between different peoples and cultures.
Renzo Spiteri is an accomplished solo artiste and session musician. He has toured extensively, performing and sharing the stage with artistes from Europe, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.
His most recent engagement was the vibrant percussion performance that, together with percussion players from the China Conservatory of Music (Beijing), was presented during the Malta Jazz Festival in July. Renzo has earned international endorsements from world-leading instrument companies Toca Percussion and Paiste Cymbals, and is supported by Olimpus Music (Malta).
The concert begins at 8.15pm. Tickets cost Lm5 each and are available from the Malta Community Chest Fund, The Palace, Valletta, Tel: 2123-1350 and 2124-0568, as well as St James Cavalier, Valletta, Tel: 2122-3216, email: boxoffice@ sjcav.org
Verdala Palace will be open for viewing after the performance. For further information about the artistes and the project visit www.renzospiteri.com.