Quattro Fusion, the popular classical/jazz combo of Melanie Scholtz and Samson Diamond, will be on the Fugard Studio stage on Sunday 11 December.

Bokani Dyer (Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2011) on the piano, with Claude Cozens on drums and Shane Cooper on bass, will be opening this cream-of-SA-jazz evening which kicks off at 18h00. This once off event is proudly presented by Standard Bank and the Fugard Theatre. Quattro Fusion features Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2010, vocalist Melanie Scholtz , teaming up with violinist Samson Diamond, Standard Bank Young Artist for Music 2010, in an exploration of light classical and jazz repertoire.

Both musicians have excelled in their formal classical education and both are equally comfortable in a jazz environment. Diamond is also a former leader of the inter nationally acclaimed Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble from its inception in 1997, and Scholtz graduated cum laude from the UCT Opera School, and is a vocalist grounded in the down-to-earthiness of the blues, R&B and legendary jazz singers like Dee Bridgewater and Billie Holiday.

Joining the Quattro fusion group are Melvin Peters (piano), Hein van de Geyn (bass) and Godfrey Mgcina (percussion). Quattro Fusion undertook a tour to Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya late last year, courtesy of Standard Bank and Alliance Française. The group received a very enthusiastic response in each of those countries. After graduating in 2008, Dyer’s trio became a regular fixture at the popular Green Dolphin restaurant in Cape Town, and he played at the Cape Town International Jazz festival with Jimmy Dludlu and toured with the band in and around South Africa. They were also a backing band for high profile jazz artists, including Jonas Gwangwa and Judith Sephuma. Dyer then joined the Moreira Project led by Mozambique saxophonist, Moreira Chonguica for the launch of his second album in Namibia, Mozambique and Cape Town. Dyer is the current winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for jazz(2011).

Tickets for the evening cost R120.00 and are available through www.computicket.com, or the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554.