New Orleans music lovers are in a period of an embarrassment of riches rivaling the heyday of international musicians visiting the city in the late 1990s. This week one of the biggest names from Brazil will be playing at three venues in the city including a very special solo performance.
Malta is arguably one of the most inventive and creative woodwind players in the world. Adept at all saxophones, flutes, and fifes (including ethnic fifes like the Japanese shakuhachi and Chinese di-zi), he has been a professional musician since the age of 18.
As a young man, he spent twelve years as a featured soloist with Brazilian icon Hermeto Pascoal playing the biggest international music festivals in the world. His work with the compositional master informed his entire career as he has carved out a reputation as a musician who has raised the profile of the flute as an equal to any of the other members of the woodwind family.
He has also played with a veritable who’s who of Brazilian artists as well as with Americans such as Pat Metheny, Gil Evans, Marcus Miller, and Charlie Haden. He recently appeared with South African superstar Dave Matthews (check out the vid above).
Malta’s first gig in New Orleans is tonight (11/1) at Preservation Hall. He will be appearing as a special guest with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The intimate environment and acoustics of the “Hall” will be perfect for Malta’s effervescent sound.
Malta will be headlining Thursday and Saturday nights (11/3 and 11/5) at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Showtimes are 8 and 10 PM. The last time he played at Snug he had a veritable army of woodwind instruments on stage. The band at Snug will feature James Singleton on bass, David Torkanowsky on keys, and Ricky Sebastian on drums.
On Friday afternoon expect to be blown away at the Old U.S Mint when Malta plays a solo set doing arrangements for whistle. That set is at 2 PM.
