Connecting with “Connected”
The nearly full Artscape Theatre, for the launch of Melanie Scholtz's new album “Connected”, was a good way to end the weekend. The supporting act was the Artscape Youth Jazz Vocal Ensemble of six people, who Melanie has taught and supported. They did a few slick-and-stylish numbers and made me appreciate some of my favourite standards in new ways - especially lovely renditions of Nature Boy and Feeling Good.
Melanie was chosen as the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz this year and she certainly proved herself worthy of the title. She took to the stage with her band, The Love Apples: Andrew Lilley on piano, Charles Lazar on double bass, Jonno Sweetman on drums and her husband, Gorm Helford, on guitar. The album features Jorn Myklebust on trumpet, but we heard Buddy Wells on saxophone making a guest appearance instead.
Melanie looked confident and relaxed and has an easy rapport with the audience. (I was impressed at how she moved around the stage in her very high heels!) The band worked well together, moving through high-paced numbers to more sensitive, moody and evocative songs. But it is Melanie's voice that really carries the songs. She has a great range from a deep, velvety sensuality to the high, but still full, voice that she employs in scatting, and then there is a power and then a sweetness and all perfectly controlled.
Melanie describes the compositions as inspired by Africa and Scandinavia and says that this album is more grown-up than her first, “Zillion Miles”. It is clean and fresh and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to hearing more from this very talented artist and the excellent Love Apples.
