The famed Jazz Festival will be coming back to our island in its abridged counterpart due to COVID-19 restrictions – The City Jazz series. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the City Jazz Series will include free masterclasses as well as exciting live events all across Malta’s capital city, Valletta. Including an exhibition curated by Therese Debono titled ‘Jazz Expressions’, the City Jazz Series is set to bring some exciting names to teach and perform. The masterclasses are free but registration is required on www.festivals.mt/masterclasses.

Piano Masterclass by Yonathan Avishai

Sharing his experience as a teacher and artist, Avishai will offer the basic tools to allow for finding balance during the creative process. Through listening to early jazz styles, Yonathan proposes an original and accessible approach for learning and connecting to this tradition. The Masterclass will take place at 5pm on 12/07/2021 at Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

Drums Masterclass by Francesco Ciniglio

Francesco Ciniglio will focus on the original flow of drumming through traditional teachings. The masterclass will be explaining how to develop a four-way single taught onto the drums, through a routine exercise perfected by Ciniglio himself called the Matrix. The masterclass will take place on 13/07/2021 at 5pm at Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

Alto Sax Masterclass by Dmitry Baevsky

Baevsky will cover a wide range of topics; from building the repertoire to harmony; from rhythm and time as well as ensemble playing. Dmitry can speak about the sound, articulation and rhythm to all those interested in specific saxophone students. Masterclass will take place on 14/07/2021 at 5pm at Hotel Phoenicia, Green Lounge.

Online Guitar Masterclass by Lage Lund

For his masterclass, Lage will demonstrate how he organises a typical practice session and the other different areas he covers during the decisions. Encouraging participants to ask questions, Lund’s masterclass will take place online on 15/07/2021 at 5pm.

Vocals Masterclass with Chiara Pancaldi

‘To sing means to relate to the inner part of ourself and be able to share our deepest feelings and emotion, the art of singing is one of the finest and maybe most ineffable form of art.” Pancaldi will work on exercises that can help singers approach melody, phrasing and improvising. Her workshop will take place on 17/07/2021 at 10am at the Hotel Phoenicia, Club Bar.

The Masterclasses aren’t the only part of the festival as performances will be heralded by some of the most talented singers and musicians of our time. The Dmitry Baevsky Quartet will be launching the festival with a performance on Monday 12th July for a night under the stars at the Hotel Phoenicia’s Bastion Pool. Entrance for this event is free, but booking via email on [email protected] or by calling on 21222541 is required. Yonathan Avishai, one of the most sought-after pianists in the international jazz scene will continue with his trio on the 13th of July at the City Theatre Valletta.

The Hinge Project, heralded by Jes Psaila will take to Pjazza Teatru Rjal on Wednesday 14th July. Made up of old ideas and new tunes, the style in instrumental fusion with an often mellow embrace of jazz and rock influences.

Nadine Axisa will be performing her second album Il-Hoss tal-Ghabex, showing her versatility and passion for smooth jazz, latin, swing and soul music. Felipe Caberra “Mirror” will continue on the spectacle as he immerses the audience in the revolutionary and creative freedom of jazz.

Daryl Hall and Chiara Pancaldi will join forces as two of the most experienced musicians around at the City Theatre Valletta. Pancaldi has been noted as a musician that never fails to impress and Hall boasts 30 years of musical and professional globetrotting.

On the final night, the Joe Debono Quintet will be rocking at the City Theatre Valletta on the 17th of July with their latest project ‘Acquapazza’ which features a collaboration with Sicilian musicians. Debono is a very active player and currently gives improvisation classes at the Malta School of Music. Last but not least, Danny Grissett Trio will be bringing the festival to a close on the 17th of July at the City Theatre Valletta, with three of the most sought-after musicians of our generation.

For more information and to book your tickets, visit www.festivals.mt/mjf

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