I am fortunate enough to have visited the island of Malta numerous times and have enjoyed their annual Jazz Festival during the majority of those visits. Malta has a rich cultural history, including jazz music in which composer and pianist Dominic Galea is considered a major player – check out his albums: Jozetta (featuring Martin Shaw, Branden Allen, Marl Lewandowski and Clark Tracey), Take 1 (Take 2), or The Legacy as examples. He also accompanied the wonderful Maltese jazz singer Nadine Axisa on her critically acclaimed debut album Velvet (2014).
N.B. All translated words are taken from an online translation tool. My knowledge of the Maltese language is sadly lacking and the only phrase I do know (Il-waqfa li jmiss – the next stop is, which I hear on Malta’s efficient bus service) is of no use to me here.
Skizzi Ghas: Sette Gugnio (Sketches for the Sette Giugno riots) was released back in 2019 but somehow it passed me by until I came across it relatively recently on the Qobuz streaming site; it very quickly became a repeat listen release. The opening track is in a straight-ahead jazz style, with the main theme being a bit of an earworm, and features saxophonist Carlo Muscat in fine form. The guitar of Karl Galea brings a different tonal colour in to play and underneath it all is a good bass line with delicate drumming from Manuel Pulis.
Qamh (Wheat) is a delightful easy going tune with a Bossa Nova feel, whereas Fizzjali (Official) sounds more purposeful with great interplay between sax and piano. Track four translates as The Silence and feels introspective with spacious guitar lines and minimal supporting notes from Dominic Galea at the piano: an absorbing, diversionary composition. Bnadar (Flags) picks up the tempo and is another fine example of Dominic Galea’s compositional skills – I do like the drum solo in this number! Bajjunetti (Bayonets) has a solid bass line, crisp drumming and the melody moves between guitar and piano – the way Dominic Galea builds and releases tension in his playing is a joy to hear. Eroj. (Hero) basically carries on the wonderful straight-ahead jazz that is a strong feature of the first seven tracks of the album: gratifyingly entertaining!
Tracks eight through fifteen are something else.
Sette Giugno (‘Seventh of June’) is a Maltese national holiday celebrated annually on 7 June. It commemorates riots which occurred in the Crown Colony of Malta on 7 June 1919 over a cost-of-living crisis in the colony. British troops eventually managed to suppress the riots, killing four in the process.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sette_Giugno
Adrian Grima is the poet responsible for the words to which Dominic has set the music. I find Adrian’s voice very easy to listen to, it has an engaging tone, is measured and I get the impression that each word is carefully chosen, nothing is wasted. The music that accompanies the words is nuanced and at no point overpowers the words of the narrator. The way the bass is used gives Adrian’s tone an added depth, Carlo Muscat’s sax playing matches the mood created by the narrator – as does the playing of Dominic and Karl Galea. Nothing here feels forced, there is no overt sign of anger, this is the telling of a historical event so that people should not forget.
I find this a fascinating album to listen to and applaud how two art forms have been brought together to create something quite moving despite my not understanding the language used. Dominic Galea is, in my opinion, a fine composer and Adrian Grima a fine poet. Carlo Muscat (who has released a number of albums under his own name that, again in my opinion, are worth checking out) understands how to use his sax to draw out an emotional connection to the poetry. Likewise, the guitar work of Karl Galea, the bass lines of Dean Montanaro, and the percussion presented by Manuel Pulis are delightful examples of understated but powerful accompaniment to the spoken word.
Skizzi għas-Sette Giugno is just one of a number of well written, played, and produced albums from Malta’s jazz community. Malta is small island rich in culture (if literature is your thing then do take a look at the novels and short stories released by the island’s Praspar Press) that sometimes feels as if they want to keep to themselves. The Malta Jazz Festival takes place in July – I will be there – but if you can’t be there then do check out the releases that are out there … you just might to dig a little.
Tracklist: 01 – L-Imperu; 02 – Qamh; 03 – Fizzjali; 04 – Is-Sikta; 05 – Bnadar; 06 – Bajjunetti; 07 – Eroj. (all compositions by Dominic Galea)
08 – Il-Korla Mhix; 09 – Mherri Dan L-Imperu; 10 – L-Ilsna Tal-Imgħoddi; 11 – Bil-Munqar; 12 – Xgħir; 13 – Bhal Swied Ta’ Qalb Dil-Belt; 14 – Ix-Xrara Kalb Il Porvli; 15 Il-Piena; 16 Fid-Daghdigha. (All compositions by Dominic Galea, poetry by Adrian Grima).
Musicians: Dominic Galea (Pjanu u Tastieri – piano & keyboards), Adrian Grima (Narratur – narrator) Carlo Muscat (Sassofonu Tenur – tenor sax), Karl Galea (Kitarra – guitar), Dean Montanaro (Kuntrabaxx – double bass), Manuel Pulis (Perkussjoni – percussion).
SimplyJazzTalk 