Melanie Scholtz is a South African born, award winning jazz singer and composer. Playing piano since the age of 5, she went on to study classical singing at the Eoan Group before completing an Opera Diploma Cum Laude at the University of Cape Town in 2000. Melanie has released 5 albums under her own name thus far as well as collaborating with many South African and international jazz artists.
In 2012, Melanie won all three prizes in the prestigious Jazz Revelations competition as part of the Jazz a Juan Festival held in Nice, France. She was invited to be part of the festival programme in 2013.
Melanie tours regularly to the Czech Republic and has also performed in Norway, France, Germany,Slovakia, Holland, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. She has been involved in the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown for the past 6 years as a performer and teacher as well as with the Artscape Youth Jazz programme since 2006. Melanie has also lectured at the University of Cape Town from 2004-2005. In 2010, Melanie was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for jazz and continues to be involved in upcoming projects and recordings involving other Young Artist Award recipients. She has also shared an impromptu duet with Bobby McFerrin during his show at Anjazz jazz festival in May 2011 and was also invited as part of the Joy of Jazz festival in Aug 2012, to guest with Kurt Elling.
In 2013, Melanie launched Freedomâs child. Freedomâs child is a collaborative project with iconic poet James Matthews marrying poetry and jazz. Also in 2013, Melanie released her full length solo offering, produced by Bokani Dyer called âOur Timeâ.
The release of her two latest recordings was followed by a very successful Christmas tour to the Czech Republic in Dec 2013.
It has been said about Melanie Scholtzâs music that it is like a âbest friendâ and listeners are always inspired by her musical honesty. This South African artist will continue to captivate listeners with her original and unique sound.
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Below is the track listing for the Boogie Wonderland show dated 20th October 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
Below is the track listing for the Crazeology Radio show dated 15th October 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
Here is a writer not content with peddling jazz covers but a composer hell bent on writing some new jazz standards” – Blues & Soul
“What sets this album apart is the quality of Webb’s writing and arranging … his songs have a timeless quality, many of them sound as if they ought to be standards” – TheJazzmann.com
“Original songs by Alex Webb both lyrically and musically nail the times” – Womanaroundtown.com
“An amazing songwriter” – Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Jazzwise
“Original songs penned by Webb … are bright, tuneful surprises” – Bistroawards.com
“Webb has that reliable musician’s ear for well-crafted and pleasant songs” – London Jazz Blog
“Plays the piano as nimbly as Fred Astaire dances” – Theeasy.com
I am a jazz-oriented songwriter and arranger and for a large part of my career I’ve worked in and around the music business – in live music promotion, music publishing, as a music press officer and in music radio.
As a piano player, in the last few years I’ve been fortunate to work with various combinations of bassists Gary Crosby, Miles Danso, George Trebar, Larry Bartley, Neil Charles and Andy Cleyndert, and drummers Shane Forbes, Moses Boyd, Siemy Di, Rod Youngs, Andy Ball and Andy Chapman. I’ve also had the pleasure of playing with some great soloists, including Frank Griffith, Guy Barker, Denys Baptiste, Nathaniel Facey, Winston Rollins, Sue Richardson and Freddie Gavita. If you don’t know them, check ’em out. On the Brazilian side, playing with bassist Kita Steuer and drummer Uira was a gas, too.
Recently in New York I was lucky enough to perform with vocalists Charenee Wade,Cyrille Aimee and Allan Harris, as well as the excellent up-and-coming instrumentalists Mimi Jones (bass), Shirazette Tinnin (drums), Benny Bennack III(trumpet), Bill Todd (alto), Brent White (trombone) and Camille Thurman (tenor sax – and a great singer too).
Influences? All the Bs, certainly: Bach, Beethoven, Bruckner, Bessie, Billie, Basie, Bud Powell, Chet Baker, Betty Carter, James Brown, Anita Baker, Chico Buarque, Jacques Brel, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Beatles … and of course Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids.
Website: https://alexwebbsongwriter.com/
Below is the track listing for the Boogie Wonderland show dated 13th October 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
Below is the track listing for the Crazeology Radio show dated 8th October 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
Born 14 July 1992
Cape Town, South Africa Bassist and composer Benjamin Jephta (23) has already made a name for himself as one of South Africa’s premier jazz double bass and electric bass players. A graduate of the jazz program at the prestigious South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, he graduated in 2013 with the fourth year class medal. Jephta has performed with a range of local and international musicians including McCoy Mrubata, Sibongile Khumalo, Paul Hanmer, Feya Faku, Jimmy Dludlu, Simphiwe Dana, Mark Fransman, Hugh Masekela, Melanie Scholtz, Marcus Wyatt, Bokani Dyer and many others. He is involved in various original projects ranging from playing double bass in a free jazz orchestra to synth-bass in a pop band. He currently operates from Johannesburg. Growing up in Mitchells Plain, it was when he attended Muizenberg High School that he fostered a love for jazz under the mentorship of Fred Kuit (winner of the 2012 SAJE Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz Education). Aside from performing in venues and festivals locally since the age of 15, Benjamin has also performed with various orchestras and small ensembles in Africa, Europe and Asia. Jephta currently spearheads two projects that play his original material. A six- piece African/fusion/funk project, called the Tribe of Benjamin and his acoustic quintet plays music drawing on gospel and South African roots, and features Kyle Shepherd (2014 Standard Bank Young Artist)(piano), Marcus Wyatt (trumpet), Sisonke Xonti (sax), Sphelelo Mazibuko (drums). With this quintet he released his debut album called ‘Homecoming’. Website: http://www.benjaminjephta.com/ Below is the track listing for the Boogie Wonderland show dated 6th October 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
Below is the track listing for the Crazeology Radio show dated 1st October 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
WORKED WITH
Andreas Schaerer, Martin Eberle, Die Strottern, Rodney Holmes, Max Nagl, Dorian Concept, Renee Benson, Julian Sartorius, Manu Mayr, Christof Dienz, Klangforum Wien, Neue Oper Wien, Wiener Symphoniker, Elliott Sharp, Fatima Spar, Vincent Pongracz, Clemens Wenger, Clemens Salesny, Studio Dan, Sam Britton, Sixtus Preiss ..
CONCERTS
France, USA, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany, Japan, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Cullyjazz, Jazzfest Saalfelden, Jazzfest Wien, Jazzahead Bremen, Jazzfest Berlin, Jarasumjazz, Wiener Festwochen, Alpenjazz Hamburg, Jazzfestival Moers, Jazzfest Wiesen, Inntöne Festival ...
ORGANIZATION
Founding Member of JazzWerkstatt Wien (2004) and JazzWerkstatt Records (2004); Artistic Director, Festival-Organizer, Labelwork, JazzWerkstatt Wien Festivals since 2005 - 2015 ...
AWARDS
2014 NDR â CD of the week with Rom Schaerer Eberle
2012 Concerto Poll â Best Album Jazz, 3. place with Rom Schaerer Eberle
2010 "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik" with Ensemble Studio Dan
2009 Amadeus Nomination for âElegantâ by âDie Strottern und JazzWerkstatt Wienâ
2008 Fair Music Certificate with JazzWerkstatt Wien
2006 Hans Koller Preis âNewcomer des Jahresâ with JazzWerkstatt Wien
SELECTED CD-RECORDINGS
Please don't feed the Model (Rom Schaerer Eberle), At the Age of Six I wanted to be a Cook (Rom Schaerer Eberle), Wo fangts an (Die Strottern und JazzWerkstatt Wien), Rastlos (Vincent Pongracz Synesthetic Octet), Starstruck (Peter Rom Trio), Says Who?! (Peter Rom Trio), In the Pelagic Zone (Studio Dan & Elliott Sharp, Jazzwerkstatt Bern Live 2010, Elegant (Die Strottern & JazzWerkstatt Wien), Hermannology (GHO Orchestra), Uarrgh (FuzzNoir), Free Lunch (Fuzz Noir)
EDUCATION
1999-2001 Performance Diploma, Berklee College of Music, Boston/USA, Practical Training in Los Angeles/Usa, Studies with Mick Goodrick and Bret Wilmott, Steve Rochinski, Tiger Okoshi
1997 Diploma Jazz-Guitar Konservatorium der Stadt Wien
Workshops with Wayne Krantz, Scott Henderson, Wolfgang Muthspiel
TEACHING
since 2002 Instructor at Vienna Music Institute
since 2013 Teacher of guitar and electric guitar at Musikschule Tulln
Below is the track listing for the Boogie Wonderland show dated 29th September 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
Below is the track listing for the Crazeology Radio show dated 24th September 2016. A link to the show can be found here:
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. CategoriesArchives
October 2019
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