Melanie Scholtz & Aaron Rimbui: Reflections On Mama Africa

($30-$40 Tickets | 7pm & 9pm shows) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents Melanie Sholtz & Aaron Rimbui.

**Melanie Scholtz**

Melanie Scholtz is a South African born, multi award winning jazz singer and composer. She started playing the piano from the age of 5 and went on to study Opera at The University of Cape Town Opera School where she graduated Cum Laude with a Performer’s Diploma in Opera 2000. Melanie went on to teach at the University of Cape Town from 2004-2005. In 2010, Melanie was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz and In 2012, won all three prizes at the prestigious Jazz Revelations competition as part of the Jazz a Juan Festival in Nice, France.

She has performed all over the world including her native country, South Africa, Czech Republic, Slovakia , Germany , France, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the United States.

Currently residing in New York City, Melanie hopes to further her career as a solo artist and songwriter. Besides performing with a jazz trio, whether it be jazz or her own music, Melanie has a solo project called The Lone Looper, using a looping machine, which enables her to create compositions using only the voice.

**Aaron Rimbui**

Aaron was born in Nairobi, Kenya. Rimbui’s ear for music was displayed while still a toddler. His father would play everything from Stevie Wonder records to Henry Mancini and take him to local restaurants where he heard the music of groups like Les Wanyika, Maroon Commandos and Samba Mapangala. This had a significant influence on how he developed his sound in later years. Rimbui’s individual expression in music continued to form in his high school years. It is at this time that he picked up the piano. Rimbui began to gravitate toward jazz as he listened to the music of David Sanborn, Joe Sample, Yellowjackets and Fourplay and later, Herbie Hancock and George Duke. Rimbui served as head the Tusker Project Fame band.