The Malta International Jazz Festival, which will be held between 15 and 17 July, is being sponsored by Mediterranean Bank plc. This was announced during a press conference held recently at the Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana.

Ray Calleja, Manager – Consumer Banking, Mediterranean Bank plc, said the bank was honoured to be associated with such a prestigious cultural event as the Jazz Festival. The bank felt it was important to contribute to the community and welcomed the opportunity to support such a high profile event. The venue itself, which happens to be immediately below St Barbara Bastion, where the bank’s offices are situated, felt like the event was tailor made for the bank to sponsor. Ray Calleja said, in conclusion, that the audiences attending the festival, had much in common with demographic profiles of the bank’s clientele.

Adrian Mamo, chairman, Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (MCCA), thanked Mediterranean Bank for supporting the festival and stated that without the financial contribution from corporate sponsors, it would not be possible to cover the costs of inviting renowned international musicians.

Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Culture, said this year’s edition has a particular significance since it is the 20th anniversary of this international event. He added that initiatives like the Jazz Festival not only added to Malta’s cultural wealth but could also attract larger numbers of tourists to the island. He commended the hard work of all those who were instrumental in making this festival a growing success.

Artistic director Sandro Zerafa listed the names of the various world-class jazz artists booked to performer this year. The three-night programme will offer a diversity of styles from jazz fusion to world music, Afro-American and contemporary in the idyllic surroundings of the Ta’ Liesse waterfront in Grand Harbour, the festival’s established venue.