Age is a beautiful phase - celebrating the work of James Matthews

Age is a beautiful phase
Date: Wednesday, 06 July 2011
Venue: Cape Town City Hall, Darling Street, Cape Town
Time: 19H00 - 21H00
Cost: Free, but booking compulsory here

The British Council in partnership with vocalist and composer Melanie Scholtz is putting up an event to celebrate the works of notable South African poet, James Matthews. Melanie has taken 13 of James Matthews poems and has converted them into songs and this evening will serve as a tribute to James's work outlining the creative writing sector.

Backing Melanie will be a quartet made up of British saxophonist Soweto Kinch, Kevin Gibson(drums), Andrew Lilley(piano) and Brydon Bolton(bass).

The evenings activities will be opened by The Tribe Of Benjamin and a dance piece by Heal the Hood.

Note, although it is a free event, it is essential to book at the link below. Also note that if you booked, but cannot make it to attend the event, there is a facility at the same link to cancel your booking so as to give others the opportunity to attend the event.

Book Here: http://britishcouncilblogs.org/africa/events-2/?event_id=51
For more info contact Harriet.duPlessis@britishcouncil.org.za or call 021 460 6673 during office hours.

Please read more about James Matthews at the links below:
http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/orders/2004/matthews.htm

http://cape-slavery-heritage.iblog.co.za/2009/08/28/james-matthews-at-80-still-on-the-boil/

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Melanie Scholtz and the Love Apples LIVE @ On Broadway

Melanie Scholtz and the Love Apples LIVE
Sunday, March 20 · 8:30pm - 11:30pm
On Broadway,88 Shortmarket Street, City Centre ,Cape Town

A not to be missed live show with Melanie Scholtz, the Standard Young Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2010 and her incredible band, the Love Apples. A one night only opportunity to catch this versatile singer live in her home town after touring Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Amsterdam,Russia and Norway.

The show features original material as well as standard jazz with a twist from her albums "Connected" and "Living standards". Showcasing her originals like "Listen to the birds" and "Connected" as well as refreshing takes on "In the wee small hours of the morning" and "Look for the silver lining".

Tickets are R60 and CDs will be on sale for R100.
The show starts at 8:30 pm .

http://www.melaniescholtz.com/

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Melanie Scholtz - ‘LIVING STANDARDS’ album launch

Recorded in Norway, Sweden and South Africa, Melanie Scholtz's third album, "Living Standards" will be launched at the Alliance Française, 155, Loop Street, Cape Town on Thursday 8 April 2010 at 8:30pm. This is Melanie's first traditional jazz album and a celebration of her recent 2010 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz.


Playing repertoire from the new album, Melanie will be joined at the event by previous Standard Bank Award recipients, Mark Fransman (piano), Kesivan Naidoo (drums), two of Sweden's top jazz musicians from her Swedish band, Johan Hörlen (alto saxophone), Martin Sjöstedt (double bass) and a very special guest from Australia Adrian Mears (trombone).

"Living Standards offer the listener a new take on well known American Jazz standards", says Melanie. "It highlights some new South African standards by Carlo Mombelli and Buddy Wells and has allowed me to explore the world of song interpretation and lyric writing.

The album has been a two year labour of love with recording sessions in Sweden during August 2008, Norway August 2009 and South Africa, October 2009. The final sessions were recorded and mixed by Jurgen von Wechmar at Sunset studios in Stellenbosch in late October 2009. This album is a true collaboration and the cultural connections and difference in timbres and textures are clearly heard in this neatly packaged volume of music".


Melanie Scholtz continues to captivate listeners with her original and unique sound and the launch of her new album promises an evening of superb music. Tickets cost R50 and may be booked through Anne Marie at Alliance Française 021 423 5699 or at the door.

http://www.melaniescholtz.com/

Alliance Française Cape Town

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Melanie Scholtz - 'CONNECTED' - Album Launch

Connected is the title of Melanie Scholtz’s new album - her second, which is to be launched at the Artscape Theatre on Sunday 7 February 2010 at 5pm. Presented by Artscape in celebration of Melanie’s recent 2010 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz, the event features Melanie and her band The Love Apples who will perform music from the album interspersed with some fabulous jazz standards.



Melanie will also be joined by the Artscape Youth Jazz Vocal Ensemble who have been part of Artscape’s Youth Jazz Festival for the past four years and in which Melanie has had a significant role. This year’s festival takes place on 18th June and details will be announced at the launch.

Marlene le Roux (Artscape) said; ‘Melanie has served as the main mentor to young musicians in Artscape’s Youth Jazz programme. She is passionate, hardworking and a role model for all. From her humble beginnings growing up in the Flats, the Standard Bank Young Artist Award gives hope and inspiration to many other young musicians. They too can fulfill a dream of becoming a top musician like Melanie.’

About the new album Melanie says; ‘Connected features original compositions with my band The Love Apples - Andrew Lilley on piano, Charles Lazar on double bass, Jonno Sweetman on drums, Gorm Helfjord on guitar and Norwegian trumpeter Ole Jorn Myklebust. Ole Jorn Myklebust is also the producer of the album. It was recorded in February 2009 at Sunset Studios in Stellenbosch by Jurgen von Wechmar. The compositions are inspired by Africa and Scandinavia and uncluttered in terms of arrangements and instrumentation. It is very different from my first ‘Zillion Miles’ as it is cleaner and fresher making use of less overdubs, backing harmonies and backing vocals - simpler and more grown up. The launch of Connected on 7 February will also give a taste of my standards album, Living Standards Vol 1, to be launched in April.’

Tickets for the Connected launch cost R50. Book through Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421-7695, Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers, outlets and on line www.computicket.com

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UCT ALUMNI CONCERT 2009 - Celebrating Excellence in Music

Celebrating Excellence in Music

UCT ALUMNI CONCERT
Thursday 13 August - Baxter Concert Hall @ 8pm

Featuring internationally renowned alumni performers

Jimmy Dludlu,
Nina Schumann,
Melanie Scholtz
Pretty Yende
Mike Campbell & the UCT Big Band

Cape Town – UCT is proud to announce a concert celebrating the excellence of South African College of Music alumni, on Thursday, 13 August 2009 at 8pm at the Baxter Concert Hall. This year’s celebration features Jimmy Dludlu, Nina Schumann, Melanie Scholtz, Mike Campbell and Pretty Yende. All are UCT graduates and multi-award winning musicians, recognised internationally, who are generously donating their performance at this UCT Alumni Concert to raise funds for music student bursaries.


"Giving back is the challenge to UCT alumni," says Jimmy Dludlu, who has made this objective one of his career goals with the work he is doing in South African townships and universities across the continent. "There are opportunities for UCT alumni in their own way to help develop their communities and support UCT projects as the musicians in this concert are doing".


Jimmy has previously appeared in South African College of Music concerts and flies in from Angola, where he has been teaching. As a performer he is appreciated by millions and has shared stages with artists such as Pat Metheny, Joe Zawinul, Al Jarreau, Gilberto Gil, George Benson, Youssou N’Dour, and Buena Vista Social Club. Jimmy. His style combines both traditional and modern elements of jazz drawn from, among others, Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Pat Metheny, as well as South African legends Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masekela, Themba Mokwena and Allen Kwela. He is particularly drawn to the sounds of west and central Africa, as well as Latin America, but jazz remains his first love. His numerous original compositions fall within the tradition of what has been loosely termed Afro-Jazz.

Dr Mike Campbell, Associate Professor and convener of the Jazz Studies Programme at the SA College of Music directs the UCT Big Band.

Nina Schumann, who is a professor at the University of Stellenbosch, will perform with her husband, Luis Magalhães. The Magalhães-Schumann Piano Duo, or TwoPianists, have presented their repertoire across South Africa, the USA, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland and Japan.


Melanie Scholtz graduated in 2000 and lectured in jazz vocal studies at UCT from 2004 to 2005. She is in great demand as a jazz singer but is equally comfortable performing in other styles: pop classical, R&B or electronica. She returns from performing in Europe for this concert.


Pretty Yende recently made headlines by winning all the top prizes at the Hans Gabor Belvedere International Singing Competition in Vienna - including a season at La Scala.

The UCT Alumni Concert was initiated three years ago to honour the South African College of Music graduates and raise funds for the music bursaries. Selaelo Selota, Judith Sephuma, Sibongile Mngoma and Francios Du Toit performed at the previous concerts.

UCT Alumni is honoured to be associated with these acclaimed musicians and acknowledges their ongoing support and contribution to the music industry and the communities

Tickets cost R120. Book through the Baxter Box Office (021 685 7880), Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers, Pick 'n Pay outlets and on line www.computicket.com

UCT Staff, Students & Alumni Graduates pay R100 and may only be booked at the Baxter Box Office.

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