Jazz Assemblea
Jazz Assemblea
Jazz Assemblea is an invitation to unite and revel in the spirit of jazz in Malta. This celebration unfolds through a series of live concerts, visual experiences, workshops and film, from September to October 2024, marking its inaugural presence at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta. Jazz Assemblea is a project by the National Agency for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government, and Spazju Kreattiv, and supported by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) and APS Bank.
Jazz Vignettes
Welcome to a visual experience that commemorates a generation of musicians considered the pioneers of Jazz in Malta. This first collection takes us back 90 years, framing the stories of some of the artists who left a mark from the late 1930s to the 1990s. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the beginnings of Jazz in Malta. At its core is a community that, although continued to grow and strengthen over the years, it has never before been fully narrated or documented.
For the first time locally, this exhibition brings together material from various sources in collaboration with a number of artists and members of the Jazz community. Two important sources were albums released by Mro Dominic Galea with Heritage Records Malta, including A Tribute to The Jazz Pioneers of Malta (2004) and the visual archives of Ġużè Camilleri, who over the last 10 years has conducted extensive research that began to narrate and document part of the history of this scene in our country.
Satellite events:
Film: Strait Street to Abbey Road
Thursday 10th October, 8.30pm
From the bomb shelters of WWII Malta to the vibrant jazz bars of Valletta, Tony Carr’s early life was immersed in music. Mentored by African-American jazz musicians, Tony formed part of one of Malta’s first jazz trios. Driven by a passion for music, he moved to London, where he eventually joined Billy Eckstine on a European tour, marking his breakthrough. Throughout the 1960s, Tony became a top session drummer for John Cameron, collaborating with legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Paul McCartney. Despite his significant contributions, Tony’s legacy remains under-recognized in Malta.
This documentary celebrates his influential journey in the international jazz scene. Documentary directed by Cedric Vella based on Tony Carr’s biography by Ġużè Camilleri. Supported by Arts Council Malta.
Cert: 16
Price: €8 / €7 concessions
Evening concerts
Friday 11th October
6pm (Studio B)
Dominic Galea on piano, Oliver DeGabriele on
double bass, Luke Briffa on drums, Carlo Muscat
on saxophone, Alex Bezzina on trumpet, Nadine
Axisa on vocals.
7 PM (Studio B)
Adrian Galea on drums, Alan Portelli on bass, Warren
Galea on guitar, Mariele Zammit on vocals.
8 PM (Studio B)
Angela Vella Zarb on vocals, Karl Galea on guitar,
Manuel Pulis on drums, Diccon Cooper on bass and
guest Adrian Brincat on trumpet.
9pm Sfera (45min) (Studio B)
Paul Giordimaina on piano, Oliver DeGabriele on
double bass, Ġużè Camilleri on drums and guest
Miles Busuttil on guitar.
Price: €12 / €10 concessions – for the whole evening
Saturday 12th October
12:30 PM Lunchtime concert (Studio B)
Will Smith on drums, Carlo Muscat on
saxaphone, Joe Debono on piano, Oliver
DeGabriele on double bass.
Price: €5
6 PM (Studio B)
Joe Bibi Camilleri on drums, Paul Abela on
piano, Ryan Abela on bass.
7 PM (Studio B)
Mario Aquilina on double bass, Noel
Grech on drums, Anthony Camilleri on
piano and Walter Vella on saxophone.
8 PM (Studio B)
Vinny Vella on piano, Joe Micallef on
drums, Anthony Saliba on double bass
and guest Philip Vella on percussion
and guitar
9pm Noir (Studio B)
Kris Spiteri on piano, Edward Ellul on bass, Alex
Debono on Drums and guests Mario Borg on
saxophone and Angela Tirchett on vocals.
Price: €12 / €10 concessions – for the whole evening
Sunday 13th October
5 PM – PANEL Discussion – (1 hour) (Studio A)
A selection of participating Jazz Assemblea
musicians will be discussing their work.
6 PM (Studio B)
George Curmi l-Pusè on violin, Joseph
Curmi on drums, Diccon Cooper on double
bass, Yuri on accordion and guest Louise
Ellul Bonici on vocals.
7 PM (Studio B)
Lino Cauchi on piano, Joe Micallef on drums
and Anthony Saliba on double bass and guest Mariele Zammit on vocals.
8 PM (Space B) – JAM SESSION
Dominic Galea on piano, Ġużè Camilleri on
drums, Anthony Saliba on double bass,
accompanied by musicians who wish to join us
for an improvised session.
Price: €12 / €10 concessions for the whole evening | €30 block ticket covering the above.
Workshops
Saturday 12th October, 9:30 AM – TONE, TIME, TACTIC – a personal approach to creative practice with Carlo Muscat (Studio A)
This workshop is based on developing a personal approach to practising improvised music. It focuses on the three main areas of sound, time and technique, and is derived from Muscat’s recent book Tone, Time, Tactic. He will share ideas he has used to shape his sound, learn tunes, and understand various aspects of the music. Muscat will also discuss methods for improving overall control and fluidity on wind instruments, which he developed from the teachings of the great saxophonist JD Allen. The methods are also applicable to other instruments since they are essential for ear training.
Price: Free but with ticket reservation
Saturday 12th October, 10.30 AM – Little Big Band (Malta School of Music) (Studio B)
Formed at the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, School of Music, the Little Big Band has been active for the last three years. It is made up of students who are in their earlier grades at the school with a special interest in big band music. The band has been performing regularly at both internal and external concerts, most notably for the Malta Spring Festival and the ToiToi festival at venues such as the Palazzo De La Salle and the Manoel Theatre. They have also been part of the DoReMi festival organised by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The band is led by tutors Alex Bezzina and Philip Attard.
Price: Free but with ticket reservation
Saturday 12th October, 11.00 AM – – Drumming Workshop with William Smith (Studio B)
During this workshop, William will talk about methods to develop and strengthen sound, technique and improvisation on the drums. Starting from very elementary topics which include how to sit and set-up ergonomically, to slightly more advanced concepts such as different stroke types to facilitate movement around the drums, coordination and time-keeping exercises and concepts to develop creativity, improvisational skills and vocabulary. There will also be room for questions from the participants.
Price: Free but with ticket reservation
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