This Week • 22 September 2002

What a week!

Charles ‘City’ Gatt, one of the most seasoned jazz musicians in Malta, is also an established painter. He tears a page out of his diary for Ramona Depares

Monday: During the summer life is not as hectic as the winter. The School of Music stops for a break which leaves me with quite a bit of free time to indulge in my passion for both the arts and music. I have always been involved in music, since I was a child. My uncle used to play the accordion and a bit of jazz and my cousins even had a group going. I soon joined in on the drums and changed its name to Beatbeaters. Before I knew it I was off to college, where I also did a bit of music. I still remember the first time I took part in an orchestra: it was during a song festival for children in Rabat, that’s where I started.

Today not much has changed in my life. I’m still very much into music although I’ve sort of expanded into jazz and percussion.

Today is my usual day for taking it easy and having a lovely, long lunch with old friends. This time we chose a place in l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, where we could indulge in our passion for good food and good wine.

Tuesday: Woke up earlyish and after a light breakfast spent a couple of hours practicing. I make it a point to practice music every day – two hours at the very least, but more often than not this is followed by a second session in the afternoon. At the moment I’m practicing on the vibraphone, it’s a sort of cymbal with bars… Reminds me of my days at Boston college, which is where I met Maestro Paul Abela.

In the course of my music I’ve been all over the world, from Russia to Greece, the States, North Africa… I love travelling and when it’s combined with music I enjoy it all the more.

In the afternoon had a call from one of the members of Jazz Fantasy, the Italian jazz group that I’m currently performing with. I met the group while playing at the opening of a cultural centre in Sud Tirol: I had been invited there both as an artist and as a musician and when I was introduced to these guys they decided that they wanted me to play with them. Which I did, and since then they’ve always asked me to appear with them, dong vibes and percussion.

We haven’t managed to play together in Malta yet. The group was here for the Jazz Festival but at the time I hadn’t met them yet. However, we will definitely plan something for Malta it’s just a question of time.

Wednesday: Off to the School of Music in Valletta, which naturally involves a major hassle when it comes to parking. Was there at nine but didn’t make it to the office before 9.15, for obvious reasons. I like to come to the school in summer to get rid of that work which is impossible to do with all the teachers and students milling around you. It’s amazing what a lot I manage to get done when I don’t have any distractions around me. The summer I ended up going to the school almost every morning, I only missed about six days.

Off to the beach in the afternoon, something which I do everyday during the warm months. My favourite beaches are Delimara, Ghajn Tuffieha and Sliema… anywhere where I can get a good swim, really. Spent the whole afternoon there until late before going back home for a nap.

The summer is lovely precisely because there is so much to do, whether it’s going to a concert or exhibition or a simple walk or perhaps a drink with friends.

Thursday: Spent a great afternoon reading at the beach. At the moment I’m reading Garcia Marquez’ Short Stories. I’ve read everything that he’s written and I think his works are simply ideal for the beach. I don’t like reading anything too heavy in this warm weather!

Later on decided to go and watch a move with the family, The Sum of All Fears, which I enjoyed tremendously. I always enjoy a good movie and I also like watching television. The Comedy Channel is one of my favourites – after all everyone enjoys a good laugh. Luckily, even my wife and daughters enjoy it: the summer is when I can spend the most time with my family. Winters can be a bit bleak: my lectures at the School of Music start in the afternoon, so I miss the kids when they come back to school but during the holidays I try and make it up.

Friday: Prepared some ground-work for an upcoming exhibition in Munich which will start in two weeks’ time. I am part of a group called Frekwenzen, which unites European artists, and we’re all taking part in this exhibition. How did my interest in art start? Hard to say, because I’ve always been into art really. At college I specialised in the subject and I also spent five years teaching it, so you can say that it is inside me. I had my first solo exhibition some fifteen years ago and – as with music – this has given me a lot of opportunities to travel. I’ve exhibited my works in Sweden, Germany, Austria, Italy… Although I started off with landscapes, these days I’m more into installations and perhaps some abstracts.

Saturday: A relaxed day. Off to the beach early and out in the evening. Met some of my friends from StART, another group of artists, this time Maltese. I think that mutual support is essential when it comes to the arts and such a group is always a fun way to interact. We’re trying to organise some activities for the upcoming months, it should be very interesting.

Went for a lovely walk with the family and finished off with a barbecue, always enjoyable in the summer.

Sunday: The end of the weekend, more is the pity. The beach was particularly crowded today, as is to be expected I suppose. Had a great lunch at home and then did some practice on the vibraphone. All in all a quiet day, ending with a quick drink with the family before going off to bed.