Final preparations are now being made for this year's edition of the Malta Jazz Festival, which starts tomorrow, Friday 18th July, 2003, at 8:00 pm. The designated area at Ta' Liesse by the Grand Harbour in Valletta is undergoing a radical transformation as the stage, together with all the sound and lighting equipment, are being moved in to support this year's edition of the Malta Jazz Festival.
Organised by the The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and sponsored by Cisk Export Premium Lager and Vodafone Malta Limited, the Jazz Festival will provide the numerous spectators the opportunity to listen to some of the best exponents of jazz music in the world.
Marketing Manager at Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, Pierre Stafrace said: "Over the three days of the Jazz Festival, Ta' Liesse takes on a fiesta atmosphere. The unique setting by the harbour gives the Festival a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere where people enjoy the music and a cool Cisk Export - either while sitting down or else dancing to Cuban rhythms!"
The 13th Edition of the Malta Jazz Festival will feature a range of international jazz stars whose musical styles and influences vary greatly. Friday evening's performers will be Domenic Galea's Heritage, Dianne Reeves and to the immense delight of many jazz fans Cubanismo will be returning to the festival. On Saturday, the line up includes American Voices featuring Coco York and Mike del Ferro, Septeto with Roberto Juan Rodriguez and David Krakauer and the evening will round up with the brilliant tenor saxophonists, Wayne Shorter. The festival comes to an end on Sunday evening with concerts by Sandro Zerafa and his Quartet, the Brazilian guitarist Jorge Ben Jor and Tania Maria and the Viva Brazil with sounds of nostalgic jazz and blues.
"All the final preparations are underway. Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz styles, together with the sound and lighting displays will provide one of the best editions of this festival.
During the Jazz Festival, Vodafone customers can win Vodafone and Cisk Export prizes by sending a blank SMS on a number, which will be announced during the three nights. Another Vodafone competition held in collaboration with The Times has been launched this week. Vodafone Malta customers may also send their favourite picture taken during the Jazz festival via MMS to mms@timesofmalta.com, and win Lm50 worth of talk-time. Details of The Times - Vodafone competition will be announced in the Jazz Festival features published this week.
Tickets, which are priced at Lm7 each for an evening ticket or Lm15 for the entire weekend, can be purchased from The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, tel 21 245 168, and Vodafone Retail Outlets in B'Kara, Victoria, Gozo, Hamrun, Naxxar, Paola, Sliema, Valletta and from Planet Vodafone at Marsa. Tickets can also be obtained from Exotique Complex (Sliema), D'Amato (Sliema and Valletta), Knight Music (Hamrun), Ta' Geraldu Kiosk and t-Teatru Manoel (Valletta), and Memories (Bugibba). Further information may be obtained from the website: www.maltajazzfest.com.