Hazel Scott Jazz Pioneer And Activist.

She Locked Musical Notes With Innovators Mingus And Roach.

Aug 1, 2009 Tien Providence

Hazel Scott was born in Trinidad, grew up in the US. She mesmerized audiences with her piano skills, married a congressman and ended up on Joe McCarthy's blacklist.

By the timeHazel Scott was six she had already achieved a following as a pianist. In her native Trinidad she had made her concert debut at age three. A year later her family moved from Trinidad to America in 1924 and two years later she made her formal American debut at New York’s famed Town Hall, site of many great performances and recordings by the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk.

At fourteen she was offered many scholarships to Julliard in New York. She worked with her mother’s All-Woman Orchestra, playing trumpet and piano. Two years later at sixteen she was a star on the Mutual Broadcasting System and playing at the Roseland Dance Hall with the Count Basie Orchestra.

Being A Pioneer And Labeled Communist.

In the late 30’s M’s Scott made the jump to musicals, which was a huge part of the New York cultural scene. She appeared in Priorities Of 1942, on BroadwayIn the mid 40’s she hosted her own radio show, The Hazel Scott Show, making her the first African-American woman to have that distinction.

On the show she spoke out against racial segregation and publicly opposed McCarthyism. These topics did not find favour with the America of those days and she was soon labeled a Communist. She was brought to the attention of the House committee to investigate Un-American Activities and the show was cancelled in 1950.

Building A Film Career And Marrying A Politician.

Also in the 40’s she made her film debut, appearing in five films: Something to Shout About, I Dood It, Broadway Melody, The Heat’s On and Rhapsody In Blue.

Hazel Scott life was always high profile from the time she left her home in Port Of Spain

Trinidad to New York; after all she was a member of the arts community and part of the famed Café Society Scene that dominated New York in the 30’s and 40’s, but when she married Congressman, activist Adam Clayton Powell in 1946. It got even higher.

This high profile marriage brought her nationwide attention, mainly because of her husband’s activities on behalf of civil rights and her support for him.

Her status did not make her immune to racism and the despicable Jim Crow laws that were the status quo in the US during those times.

Under such withering scrutiny, her marriage was doomed and after a few separations, she eventually divorced Mr Powell. They had one son. Hazel moved to France where she lived in a self imposed exile, returning to the US in 1967.

Throughout her years as an activist and amidst all the other achievements in her life, her music was always the centre of her attention.

Recording For The Debut Label.

She made her recoding debut for the Coral label in 1952 releasing a self titled album and followed it up with Hazel Scott’s Late Show a few months later. She went on to record a few more excellent albums for Decca, Ticoh, Columbia and Signature, but it was her 1995 recording for Charles Mingus’s label Debut Records that many jazz enthusiasts rave about.

The album Relaxed Piano Moods, places Ms Scott in the company of jazz giants Max Roach on drums and label owner the legendary Charles Mingus on Bass.

This recording is one of the few albums that are available to collectors today.

Other great recordings include the 2004 release of Round Midnight on the Universal International label.

Induction Into The Hall Of Fame.

This album finds her with a quartet including Everett Barksdale on guitar, Sandy Block on Bass and Jimmy Crawford on drums. It is an excellent showcase of her incredible technique and beautiful. It was briefly taken off the market, but thankfully was re-released by Fresh Sounds in 2008.

Hazel Scott returned to the US in 1967 and appeared on the television shows Julia and The Bold Ones. In 1978 she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall Of Fame.

She also continued working as an activist, doing fund raisers for the March Of Dimes organization and as a musician up until her death from cancer on October 2nd 1981.

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Hazel Scott At The Piano