Melanie Scholtz Band

Born into a musical family, Melanie Scholtz learnt to play the piano at the age 5, and at 16 went to study singing with The Eoan group.  This 2010 Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz graduated from the SA College of Music in 2000 with a Performers’ Diploma in Opera Cum Laude.  Melanie performs with anything from a 2 to 5-piece band.

In 2002, Melanie won “Best Jazz Vocalist” in the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters, and in 2006 released her debut album entitled “Zillion Miles”.  A career highlight was singing the South African National anthem at the President’s Cup Golf Tournament  in 2003 to former South African president Nelson Mandela and the world.  She has also been invited to perform in Spain, Portugal, Holland, Morocco, Norway, Sweden and Austria and collaborates with numerous artists both nationally and internationally.

Melanie has performed with the who’s who of South African jazz, as well as acclaimed international musicians such as Norwegian Band “Inkala”, Belgian jazz pianist Jack van Poll, Al Jarreau and Joe Mcbride.  She lectured in jazz vocal studies at the University of Cape Town from 2004-2005 and has been involved in Artscape’s Youth Jazz development projects since 2006.

Melanie is also an accomplished composer/lyricist/writer and director, and in February 2009 she recorded her second album with Norwegian trumpeter and producer, Ole Jorn Myklebust.  “Connected“ features  her new original compositions  and was released at Artscape in Feb 2010. It  was followed shortly by “Living Standards”, a traditional jazz album, in April  2010.  Both albums feature Melanie Scholtz with her band  “The Love Apples".

Apart from her own compositions and recordings, Melanie collaborated and was featured with guitarist Jimmy Dludlu on “Peaceful Moment” and on “Which way to Go” with Iridium Project. Both these singles went to No 1 on SA Radio.  She was also featured as vocalist and lyricist on albums by Mark Fransman and Ivan Mazuse

Melanie has performed at numerous music festivals nationally and internationally, and in August 2009 recorded a live album with Inkala in Vadso at the Varanger Jazz Festival in Norway. In  February 2010, Melanie performed  in Murmansk, Russia as well as in Norway in March 2010.

Standard Bank’s initiative to support art led to an African tour of Kenya,Ghana, Nigeria in the form of a collaboration between Melanie and violinist, Samson Diamond, the Music Winner of the Young Artist Award 2010.

Melanie continues to be invited to perform overseas and just completed a two week tour in Czech Republic in April 2011 , followed by a festival gig in Hamar , Norway as part of Anjazz Jazz festival.

It has been said about Melanie Scholtz’s music that it is like a ‘best friend’ and listeners are always inspired by her musical honesty. This South African artist will continue to captivate listeners with her original and unique sound.