The Malta Jazz Festival is an annual musical event held every July in Malta, organised by Festivals Malta (previously part of Arts Council Malta and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts). It is held outside Our Lady of Liesse Church, on the Valletta waterfront.
History
The festival was established in 1990 by Charles 'City' Gatt and has featured world-renowned jazz musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Elvin Jones, John Patitucci, Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Al Di Meola, Natalie Cole, Betty Carter, Richard Bona, Joe Henderson and Mike Stern.
In 2006, the event was controversially removed from the artistic directorship of Gatt, a pioneer of Maltese jazz, and placed in the hands of private promotion company N'n'G, who attempted to style it into a more populist 'Rock and Jazz' festival. Subsequent line-ups almost entirely bereft of contemporary jazz content and mainly featuring a host of passé rock musicians, reformed prog rock acts and tribute bands led the festival into a period of brief decline.
2009 saw the festival return to its roots under the directorship of Maltese musician Sandro Zerafa with a line-up of world-renowned jazz musicians.
Among the artists who performed at the 2010 festival were Bill Stewart, Ari Hoenig, Greg Hutchinson, Dave Weckl, Dave King, Mike Stern and Richard Bona. The 2011 festival featured Lionel Loueke, Joao Bosco, Monty Alexander and Avishai Cohen. Times of Malta - Eclectic Jazz Festival Announced The 2012 festival took place on July 19, 20 and 21 and included performances by Al Di Meola, Terri Lyne Carrington, Chano Dominguez, Tigran Hamasyan, Dianne Reeves, Jeremy Pelt and Will Vinson. Times of Malta - Eclectic Array for Jazz Fest
The 2013 festival was staged on July 18, 19 and 20, featuring the Robert Glasper Experiment, Vijay Iyer Trio, Gregory Porter, Michel Camilo Trio, Gilad Hekselman Quartet, Charles 'City' Gatt Vibraphone Quintet, Gerald Clayton Trio (featuring Logan Richardson), Cusp and Walter Vella Quartet. Times of Malta - Michel Camilo returns for 2013 Malta Jazz FestivalTimes of Malta - Malta Jazz Festival returns in July
Among the acts appearing at the 2014 festival were Warren Wolf, Tom Harrell (featuring Jaleel Shaw, Johnathan Blake, Esperanza Spalding, Wayne Escoffery and Ugonna Okegwo), Kneebody, Brecker Brothers Band Reunion (featuring Terry Bozzio), Laurent Coq's Dialogue Trio, Ada Rovatti, Barry Finnerty, Neil Jason, Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana. Mehldau and Guiliana performed as their synthesizer-oriented duo project "Mehliana". The festival took place between July 17 and 19.Times of Malta - Brad Mehldau, Mark Guiliana to feature at Malta Jazz Festival - Official Malta Jazz Festival Facebook Page
The 2015 festival took place between July 16 and 19. Among the acts on stage were Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, Eric Harland, David Binney, Chucho Valdes, Kurt Elling, Soweto Kinch, Joe Cohn and Richard Bona.Times of Malta - Grammy winners to feature at this year's Malta Jazz Festival
For 2016, the festival moved away from Ta` Liesse for its opening night, which took place at Valletta's City Gate. Among the acts at the 2016 festival were headliner Mike Stern, Snarky Puppy, Omer Avital, Harold López-Nussa and pianist Marcus Roberts' trio. This 26th edition of the festival took place between July 21 and 23.Times of Malta - Jazz Festival opening night at City Gate; Mike Stern to headline
The 2017 festival was staged between July 20 and 22, featuring acts including Mark Guiliana, Al di Meola, Antonio Sanchez, Nicholas Payton and Munir Hossn. Malta Today - Malta Jazz Festival Promises to be an Unforgettable Event Times of Malta - Star-Studded Line-up for Malta Jazz Festival The 2018 Malta Jazz Festival was headlined by Chick Corea, John Patitucci and Dave Weckl. The festival took place between July 16 and 21. Times of Malta - Jazz legend Chick Corea to headline Malta Jazz Festival
The 2019 festival took place between July 15 and 20. Some of the main acts performing were Jazzmeia Horn, Kenny Garrett, Ozmosys (featuring Omar Hakim) and Chucho Valdés. The festival also featured local acts such as the William Smith Trio, Dominic Galea and Malta Concert Orchestra's Big Band together with Joe Cutajar.Times of Malta - Big Names Lined up for Malta Jazz Festival Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the festival took place in a reduced format between July 13 and 18, including virtual masterclasses, an internet channel featuring rare broadcasts of concerts from the festival's archives and a virtual exhibition of photography. - Malta Jazz Festival Official Website
The 2021 festival took place in a reduced 'City Jazz Series' format between July 12 and 17 with appearances from Danny Grissett, Chiara Pancadli and Darryl Hall, Yonathan Avishai, Felipe Cabrera 'Mirror' and Dmitry Baevsky - Jazz Returns to the City
The 2022 edition of the festival took place between July 11 and 16. It featured, among others, Clark Tracey & Dominic Galea Legacy Quintet, The Blue Tangerine, Francesco Ciniglio “Locomotive Suite”, Yusan, Danny Grissett Trio, John Scofield’s “Yankee Go Home”, Warren Galea Trio, Joel Ross “Good Vibes”, Richard Bona & Alfredo Rodriguez and Daniele Cordisco quintet. The festival was dedicated to the memory of the event's founder, Charles 'City' Gatt, who died in February 2022. Festivals Malta websitehttps://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/music/115043/charles_city_gatt_father_of_maltese_jazz_passes_away_at_77#.YtcZJnbMI2w] Malta Today - Charles 'City' Gatt Father of Maltese Jazz Passes Away at 77
The 2023 festival was staged between July 11 and 15, headlined by Samara Joy, Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet, Kurt Elling featuring Charlie Hunter performing Superblue, Immanuel Wilkins, The New York Blue Note Quintet and Raynald Colom Quintent. https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-jazz-festival-opens-tomorrow.1042466 - Malta Jazz Festival opens tomorrow
The 2024 festival took place between July 8 and 13, headlined by Chief Adjuah, Walter Smith III Quintent, Something Else!, Trio Grande, Monica Solmaso and Tom Ollendorff Trio.https://www.festivals.mt/mjf - Malta Jazz Festival Headliners
In 2025, the festival was held between July 7 and 12 and featured Lukmil Pérez Quartet, Franck Amsallem Trio, Rebecca Martin, Larry Grenadier & Bill McHenry, Knower, Viktorija Gečytė and Daniel Gassin, Richard Sears Trio, Paul Giordimaina SFERA, Peter Bernstein Quartet, Michael Mayo, Glen Montanaro Trio, and Johnathan Blake.https://timesofmalta.com/article/four-major-arts-festivals-kick-off-malta-summer.1109213
Lineups +EditionYearDatesNotable Acts 11990Chick Corea, Michael Petrucciani, Elvin Jones2199126-28 JulyElvin Jones's Jazz Machine, Robin Jones, Alexei Kuznetzov, Chick Corea with John Patitucci and Dave Weckl, Esmond Selwyn Trio31992John Patitucci41993Al Di Meola51994 Betty Carter, Jack Dejohnette, Bill Evans, Joe Henderson, Mike Stern, Joe Zawinul61995 Paul Motian71996Mro Paul Abela with Alex Debono, Coco York81997Dave Weckl, Mike Stern9199817-19 JulyMichael Brecker Group, Dave Holland Group, Diana Krall Trio, Bob Berg Band, Lee Konitz, Paul Bley10199916-18 July Herbie Hancock's Gershwin's World, Carla Bley 4 + 4, Gabrielle Comeglio + Cinda Jazz Funk, Larry Coryell's Eleventh House, Bill Frisell Band, Tommy Smith Group, Mike Manieri + Steps Ahead, Johann S. Big Band, Lucky Peterson's Blues Band 112000 Joao Bosco and the Yellowjackets, Joe Zawinul12200120-22 JulyCharlie Haden132002 Arto Tuncboyaciyan14200318-20 JulyCalexico, Mint Royale, Wayne Shorter, Roberto Juan Rodríguez featuring David Krakauer, Diane Reeves, Tania Maria, Sandro Zerafa Quartet152004 16–18 July Joao Bosco and the Yellowjackets, Geri Allen, The Souldbop Band162005 15–17 JulyMaria João, Greg Osby, John Zorn, Richard Galliano, Rosa Passos, Brian Blade and Dino Saluzzi172006 21–23 July The Original Blues Brothers Band, Emily Bezar, Alan Parsons172007 19–22 July Zucchero, The Wailers, Australian Pink Floyd, Nina Ferro, PP Arnold, Dr Robert182008 15–17 JulySierra Maestra, Ray Wilson, Curved Air192009 16–18 JulyBrad Mehldau, the Oliver Degabriele Trio, the Kurt Rosenwinkel Band, Eliane Elias, the John Scofield Piety Street Band, Miguel Zenon Quartet20201015-17 July Bill Stewart, Ari Hoenig, Greg Hutchinson, Dave Weckl, Dave King, Mike Stern, Richard Bona212011 14–16 July Lionel Loueke, Joao Bosco, Monty Alexander and Avishai Cohen222012 19–21 July Al Di Meola, Terri Lyne Carrington, Chano Dominguez, Tigran Hamasyan, Dianne Reeves, Jeremy Pelt and Will Vinson232013 18–20 July Robert Glasper Experiment, Vijay Iyer Trio, Gregory Porter, Michel Camilo Trio, Gilad Hekselman Quartet, Gerald Clayton Trio (featuring Logan Richardson), Charles 'City' Gatt Vibraphone Quintet242014 17–19 July Warren Wolf, Tom Harrell, Kneebody, Brecker Brothers Band Reunion (featuring Terry Bozzio), Laurent Coq's Dialogue Trio, Ada Rovatti, Barry Finnerty, Neil Jason, Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana252015 16–19 July Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, Eric Harland, David Binney, Chucho Valdes, Kurt Elling, Soweto Kinch, Joe Cohn and Richard Bona262016 21–23 July Mike Stern, Snarky Puppy, Omer Avital, Harold López-Nussa, Marcus Roberts trio272017 20–22 JulyMark Guiliana, Al di Meola, Antonio Sánchez, Nicholas Payton, Munir Hossn282018 16–21 July Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl292019 15–20 July Jazzmeia Horn, Kenny Garrett, Ozmosys (featuring Omar Hakim) and Chucho Valdés, the William Smith Trio302020 13–18 July Main performances cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.312021 12–17 July Danny Grissett, Chiara Pancadli and Darryl Hall, Yonathan Avishai, Felipe Cabrera 'Mirror' and Dmitry Baevsky322022 11–16 July Clark Tracey & Dominic Galea Legacy Quintet, The Blue Tangerine, Francesco Ciniglio “Locomotive Suite”, Yusan, Danny Grissett Trio, John Scofield’s “Yankee Go Home”, Warren Galea Trio, Joel Ross “Good Vibes”, Richard Bona & Alfredo Rodriguez and Daniele Cordisco Quintet332023 10–15 July Samara Joy, Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet, Kurt Elling featuring Charlie Hunter performing Superblue, Immanuel Wilkins, The New York Blue Note Quintet and Raynald Colom Quintent342024 8–13 July Chief Adjuah, Walter Smith III Quintent, Something Else!, Trio Grande, Monica Solmaso and Tom Ollendorff Trio352025 7–12 July Lukmil Pérez Quartet, Franck Amsallem Trio, Rebecca Martin, Larry Grenadier & Bill McHenry, Knower, Viktorija Gečytė and Daniel Gassin, Richard Sears Trio, Paul Giordimaina SFERA, Peter Bernstein Quartet, Michael Mayo, Glen Montanaro Trio, and Johnathan Blake362026 6–11 July Toninho Horta with Mathias Allamane, Seamus Blake, and Jeff Ballard, Ghost-Note
References
External links Official Site of the Malta Jazz Festival Malta Jazz Festival Blog The Times of Malta