MGARR GOZOVENUE.

06TH SEPTEMBER 2014

20:30

DATE.

TIME.

2 N D E D I T I O N

MGARRBY RACHEL GALEA

Music is one of the pillars of culture whilst jazz music in particular is one of the world’s truly greatest art forms. We are very honoured to host the second edition of this event in Gozo once again.

This year’s Jazz Do will be held in Mġarr. Mġarr is an idyllic place, the main gateway to Gozo, the main fishing resort on the island and a place where locals meet in the evenings. I am sure that it will be the perfect setting for jazz enthusiasts to enjoy the music.

We augur that this Jazz Do becomes an attraction for national and international visitors and artists. Its primary aim is the encouragement of jazz music along with an array of established and new jazz performers.

This event would not have been possible without the full support of various entities including the Ministry of Tourism through the Malta Tourism Authority, the Ministry for Culture through the Arts Council and the Culture Office within the Ministry for Gozo. A heartfelt thank you for making this event possible and for believing in us. Such events are a showcase of local talent and diversity of styles.

I would like to thank in advance all the performers who will be taking part and encourage you to attend. Your attendance will be your indication of support for such incentives and encourages us to continue organising such events in the future.

DR ANTON REFALO MINISTER FOR GOZO

GOZO HEAD OFFICE:

The Brokerage, Level 0 “A”, St Marta Street,

Victoria VCT 2550, Gozo, Malta

Tel: 2258 7000, 2155 4492 Fax: 2155 9199

MALTA OFFICE:

95, Fleur de Lys Road, Birkirkara BKR 9064, Malta

Tel: 2144 1003 | Fax: 2144 1006

Licensed to conduct investment services by Malta Financial Services Authority.

GOZO HEAD OFFICE:

The Brokerage, Level 0 “A”, St Marta Street,

Victoria VCT 2550, Gozo, Malta

Tel: 2258 7000, 2155 4492 Fax: 2155 9199

MALTA OFFICE:

95, Fleur de Lys Road, Birkirkara BKR 9064, Malta

Tel: 2144 1003 | Fax: 2144 1006

Licensed to conduct investment services by Malta Financial Services Authority.

We welcome you to the second consecutive edition of Jazz Do in Gozo, a summer celebration of jazz where great talents come together for a special music event. Such events will further add to the attractiveness of this special niche, portraying the island of Gozo as a unique and distinct tourist destination. These events continue to expand the existing cultural segment and will provide more qualitative entertainment for the benefit of the tourists and Maltese visiting our sister island.

DR EDWARD ZAMMIT LEWISMINISTER FOR TOURISM

Jazz, the sea, the stars. For the second consecutive year, Jazz Do will be held in Gozo, this time round in Mġarr, where an enchanting ambience and top-class musicians come together for a memorable evening.

Providing yet another highlight to Gozo’s cultural and tourism calendar, some of the best local jazz musicians team up with foreign jazz artistes for a quality event which aims to attract locals and visitors alike. From established jazz artistes to rising musicians, this event aims to introduce new audiences to the genre while delighting jazz aficionados. It’s a winning combination which, year after year, can only grow bigger and better.

While retaining its reputation as a sanctuary, Gozo also has a teeming cultural life. Jazz Do is a clear example of a quality event which respects the island’s character while enhancing its cultural value. As the notes float out to sea, I am certain that you, too, will share that feeling.

DR OWEN BONNICIMINISTER FOR CULTURE

ALBERT MARSHALLCHAIR, ARTS COUNCIL MALTA

This is edition two of Jazz Do. The internal rhyme is accidental.

The humble beginnings of this event took place last year. An excerpt from my programme note referring to the 2013 Xlendi experiment: “This event may very well be the kick-off for an annual do with a crave for growth and the development of a platform for Gozitan musical talent, both established and emerging, that will hopefully feature strongly in editions to come. Let Gozo go funky every September from this year on. I don’t know about you guys, but to me jazz whiffing along on the wings of summer breezes in Gozo is poetry-in-motion….”

This year, the whiffs are wafting at Mġarr, the jazz promises to be funkier, the stage international.

However Gozitan participation is still not strong enough. Gozo should take ownership of this project both content and production wise. Only when this materializes shall we achieve a full and meaningful sense of successs.

There you go: I’ve had my boring whinge for the night. Now let the fun begin…

As one approaches Gozo on the ferry, one is immediately struck by the magnificent views of Mġarr Harbour, the gateway to the island of Calypso. On the lefthand side, perched on top of Ras it-Tafal – the Clayey Headland is the 18th century fortification of Fort Chambray, now turned into Tourist Village with first-class apartments for prospective settlers in Gozo. To the right of Fort Chambray is Our Lady of Lourdes Sanctuary, a Gothic style church erected prior to the end of the 19th century. Just below, in a rocky niche surrounded by green vegetation, is the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.

In the background of Mġarr’s scenic views is the Parish Church of Our Lady of Loreto, with a towering belfry and a dome. It was designed by architect Ugo Mallia. Structural works on this new Parish Church were started in 1922 and were concluded in 1981, a span of 59 years.

The greenish lower belt of Mġarr is Giardino Migiarro, Mġarr’s garden, well watered by natural

ABOUT MGARR

...springs rushing down from Wied ir-Rajjes, the Chieftain’s Valley, which in the days of yore served as a watering station for corsairs and other marauders. One of the buildings in the foreground is Mġarr Pumping station which used to pump water to the reservoirs of the Citadel.

On the lefthand side there are the rocky cliffs overlooking Żewwieqa, a colourful location, with its small sandy beach. Further to the left is Gozo’s only yacht marina.The buildings on the righthand side are a combination of Gozo’s residential houses, a modern hotel and recently built luxury apartments. As the ferry arrives at Mġarr it will berth along one of the quays of the state-of-the-art Mġarr Terminal. Mġarr Harbour is jointly administered by the Central Government and Għajnsielem Local Council.

Has been involved in jazz over the past few years and a member of the jazz trio CUSP who participated in the Malta Jazz Festival 2013 and the Manuel Pulis Project who recorded and launched a CD last year. In March of this year, Jes launched his own CD made up of six original compositions.

Maltese pianist who has been playing since the tender age of four. Having won major performance diplomas from Trinity College (London) and London College of Music, Mark furthered his studies in jazz. He performs regularly with local jazz musicians in a variety of setups, and has performed in various musicals and concerts, including Malta’s best selling pop music acts VOICES and Teatru Unplugged.

Mark was recently involved in the recording and launching of locally acclaimed guitarist Jes Psaila’s debut album.

Simon started his initial studies at a young age and after studying piano for a number of years he began playing electric bass at the age of 13. He quickly moved from playing rock to blues, soul, funk and jazz. As a performer, he has played with leading musicians and covers a wide span of musical activities.

In 2011, Simon produced and released his solo album entitled BaSSIC Attitude. In this album Simon collaborated with multi-instrumentalist Alexander Kuzmin.

JES PSAILA

MARK ATTARD

SIMON SAMMUT

Recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in music from the Contemporary Music College: The Institute, London.

During his years of study, he took private lessons and attended master-classes from several distinguished jazz/latin drummers. Joseph played in several gigs and recording sessions both in Malta and London. Currently he forms part of the Maltese ethnic/folk band Trania as a drummer/percussionist.

JOSEPH CAMILLERI DRUMS

Paul Abela is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. He is a very prolific composer / arranger / producer / conductor in various genres. He has composed songs for various music festivals in Poland, Prague, Bratislava, Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Canada and other countries. Paul was musical director and conductor for the Malta productions of various musicals such as The Sound Of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Fiddler On The Roof, Cabaret, Les Miserables In Concert, etc... He has composed music for television, television serials, film and theatre and has produced and conducted concerts for orchestra, big band and for television. Paul has also been very active on the jazz scene and besides playing concerts with various Maltese and foreign musicians, formed the Johann S Big Band which took part in various editions of the Malta Jazz Festival.

MAESTRO PAUL ABELA PIANO

Charles Gatt was the director of the Malta Jazz Festival for its first 15 years. He was also Head of the Johann Strauss school of music for 10 years. He has studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has played at the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall in London amongst many other international venues. He has recorded an album of solo percussion music and played with Andy Jaffe, David Kikoski, Joe Makholm, Big Band and the Melrose Symphony orchestra in Boston.

CHARLES ‘CITY’ GATTDRUMS

Marc Galea is a session guitarist, Tgt Registered Tutor, and principal at the Euro Institute of Music in Hamrun.

He has just published his first guitar book titled, A Step by Step Approach for the Modern Guitar Player.

In 2008 and 2009 he was awarded the internationally-acclaimed RGT Guitar Tutor of the Year finalist Award. He released an EP MY JOURNEY followed by the album Easy Dialogue.

MARC GALEA GUITAR

A very promising young bass player. He plays both electric and acoustic bass and is studying both classical and jazz. He has played in various clubs and venues in Malta and with various musicians. He recently played during the Fringe Jazz concerts of this year’s edition of the Malta Jazz Festival.

RYAN ABELA BASS

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in the United States Cirinnà comes from a musical family from three generations and has studied the clarinet at the conservatories of Catania and Rome.

In 1984 he won a competition as a soprano saxophone in the prestigious National Band of the Carabinieri of Rome. In the capital he has the opportunity to immerse himself in a music and jazz environment and mingle with the most important Italian musicians and predominantly M.Urbani, M S. Scatta, M. Giammarco, D. Terenzi, A. Salis, A. D’Anna, and studied with A. Galigani. He has participated in some RAI TV broadcasts as part of pop music’s tour of some of the most popular Italian singers (Nino Buonocore, Tullio de Piscopo). In 1989 he moved to USA where he lived for 10 years, he studied at the Berklee College in Boston with teachers such as J. Bergonzi and C. Banacos. In the USA he attended the Blues, Jazz, Ethno and collaborated with Ibraima Camara T. Bennett, Y’N’Dour, J. Loockwood. Back in Italy in addition to his personal projects he collaborated with Peppe Arezzo and orchestra of twelve lands, Mediterranean Jazz Orchestra that was conducted by G. Gruntz, G.M. Schneider, B. Mintzer. He made two tours in the United States and had the honorary citizenship of the city of Little Rock and took part in various Jazz Festivals in France.

He has collaborated with: F. Boltro, P. Fresu, S. Aruda, F. Bosso, M. Rosa, F. Cafiso, B.Mintzer, G. Low, P. Jeffrey, S. Satta, G. Gruntz, D. Malo, T. L. Terzano, E. Intra, P.Birro, Betao, T. Bennett, W. Nelson, J. Loockwood, M. Pellitteri, U. Maheshwari, D. Wilson, D. Terenzi, A. D’Anna , L C. Cusmano, N. Toscano, P. Tonolo, A. Beneventano, E. Rava.

He studied with: Liceo Musicale Catania, Conservatory of Rome, Nicola Conte, Alfio Galigani, Jerry Bergonzi, Charlie Banacos, Ibraima Camara. He attended courses in conducting with Thomas Briccetti.

RINO CIRINNÀ

Born in Brescia, Nello Toscano soon moved to Catania. From a young age, he studied the guitar and, after graduating in philosophy, he studied the double-bass at the Liceo Musicale: “V. Bellini” di Catania. He followed a course with Dave Holland and music compositon with George Russell at the JACP in Paris. As a double-bassist, he has collaborated with numerous artists including Bob Mintzer, Bruce Forman, Charles Tolliver, Conte Candoli, Dusko Goykovich, Gary Bartz, George Cables, George Gruntz, George Robert, Giovanni Mazzarino, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Barron, Lee Koonitz, Lew Soloff, Maria Schnieder, Phil Woods, Steve Grossmann, Tom Harrell, Dado Moroni, Danilo Rea, Enrico Intra, Enrico Rava, Francesco Cafiso, Franco Cerri, Gianni Basso, Massimo Urbani, Maurizio Giammarco, Paola Fresu, Pietro Tonolo, Roberto Gatto, Stefano Di Battista, Tony Scott, l’Orchestra Jazz Siciliana conducted by Gunter Schuller. In 1998 he created the Orchestra Jazz del Mediterraneo of which he is director. For the past few years, after having taught music for 30 years, he has returned to teaching history and philosophy at the Liceo Scientifico “Galileo Galilei” in Catania.

NELLO TOSCANO

A musician of exceptional talent, he showed artistic qualities from a young age, both on the piano and trumpet. At 14 years of age, he caught the attention of Enrico Rava, who exalted his qualities in print. Other important experiences included those with George Gruntz, Bob Mintzer and Maria Schneider who, at the age of 18, gave him the possibility of expressing himself as a soloist in their orchestral works.

Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the most important Italian musicians, including Pietro Tonolo, Roberto Gatto, Francesco Cafiso, Paul Jeffrey, Flavio Boltro and many others. With Paul Jeffrey he has toured the USA. He has formed part of the Italian quartet of Francesco Cafiso, with whom he recorded a CD. He also recorded a CD in his own name with CAM Record.

DINO RUBINO

George Curmi was born in 1966 and hails from Valletta, the capital city of Malta. He is descended from a long-established and renowned family of musicians and culture. He was introduced to music by his own father, Joseph, himself a veteran musician. He commenced to play percussion at the age of five, and switched to violin at the age of 12, studying at the Johann Strauss School of Music under the tuition of the late Mr Joe Galea. When he was 14 he was approached by Mro. Joseph Sammut to play with the Manoel Theatre Orchestra as a part-time musician. At the age of 15 he was awarded a scholarship to pursue his musical studies at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence, Italy under the tuition of Profs. Mauro Ceccanti. Upon his return to Malta, George was recruited by the Manoel Theatre Orchestra, and later joined the Malta National Orchestra.

George is a very prolific composer, bent in this field on being as original as he is inclined to be a violin player. He also plays the saxophone, mandolin and percussion. He is renowned for his style and versatility, playing a wide variety of musical styles and entertaining different types of audiences.

George is also a renowned jazz musician, participating several times in the Malta Jazz Festival and jazz concerts. Throughout his career he has also performed at prestigious jazz festivals abroad.

His musical career has led him to a number of foreign countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Tunisia and the U.S.A making it possible for him to perform alongside international artists, even as a supporting act for Miss Shirley Bassey in Melbourne Australia in 1999.

GEORGE CURMI IL-PUSE’VIOLIN

Has been playing in local hotels and bars for the past 35 years playing with top local artists and musicians in Malta.

Throughout his career he has also played in Canada, Montreal, Greece and UK and now works regularly at jazz nights in various local bars around Malta.

GODWIN LUCAS PIANO

Has been playing drums for about 34 years and has played with most top local artists and vocalists in Malta. He has taken part in the Malta jazz Festival many times, the most recent being in 2011 and 2013 with the Walter Vella quartet featuring a French guitarist and a Hungarian bass player.

He has worked in recording studios, collaborating in the production of various local artists and their projects especially latin jazz and original music composition recorded on CD.

Joe works regularly at jazz nights in various local spots around Malta contributing to the jazz scene on the island, whilst promoting jazz with people who are not familiar with this genre of music.

JOE MICALLEFDRUMS

Joseph M. Vella was born in Valletta and at the age of 10 he started his first bass lessons.

He furthered his studies at the Johann Strauss of Music under the tutorshop of Mro T. Chircop, Victor Fenech and S. Borg. In later stages he started his career as a pop bass player and later he joined a local band. Whenever he was abroad he had the opportunity to visit some popular Jazz Clubs and he became more interested in Jazz music, and he later studied Jazz – improvisation.

He was also a member of the Johann Strauss Jazz band and took part in concerts, TV programmes and played in various night clubs.

JOE VELLA BASS

4th October

Minister for Gozo Minister for CultureMinister for Tourism

Arts Council MaltaGozo Culture OfficeMalta Tourism Authority

Compere Joseph Buttigieg/ Lydia RicardsProgramme Co-ordinator Anthony CauchiDesign Erica Spiteri

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS