Brazilian music was often on the bill in past editions of the Malta Jazz Festival. Whether it was bossa nova, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) or the baiao rhythms of the North East, the stage at Ta’ Liesse was a brilliant showcase for the wide variety of styles of Brazilian music. This year we are in for another treat as Eliane Elias pays homage to bossa nova on 17 July. Some past festival-goers may remember Eliane Elias from her 1999 appearance at Ta’ Liesse with Mike Manieri’s Steps Ahead.
The Sao Paolo-born pianist/vocalist started her performing career in Brazil with Toquinho and Vinicius de Moraes , and eventually moved to New York, where she began to work with the group Steps Ahead. She then pursued a solo career spanning over 18 albums to date, the latest being Bossa Nova Stories – an album which has been topping the charts in France, Japan and the US. Eliane Elias will be accompanied by Marc Johnson (legendary bass player who was a member of one of Bill Evans’ seminal piano trios), drummer Rafael Barata and guitarist Rubens de la Corte, best known for his work with Angelique Kidjo.
Featuring on the same bill on 17 July are guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Standards trio with Eric Revis and Rodney Green, and Oliver Degabriele’s trio featuring Alison Galea. The festival will be held on 16, 17 and 18 July at Ta’ Liesse in Valletta.
Tickets are available on 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 only e30. Concession tickets for students and the elderly (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.
The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts with the collaboration of the Park & Ride Management is organising the Park & Ride service between 7pm and 00.30am from the Park & Ride directly to Ta’ Liesse. The Festival is supported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Hotel Phoenicia, Malta Tourism Authority, the Valletta local council, and functions within the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.