Still Swinging, Still Classic: A Musical Biography of Pioneering Pianist Hazel Scott
Saturday, February 26, 2011
-
Black History Month 2012
More -
Black History Month 2011
WQXR honors Black History Month throughout February with special programming.
More
As All Ears commemorates Black History Month, we present a portrait of Hazel Scott (1920-1981), the wife of late Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and a Julliard-trained pianist who performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls.
Known as the “darling of Café Society”, the Trinidad-born Scott was quickly recognized as a child prodigy, being accepted as a piano student at Juilliard at age 8. By age 14, she was playing in touring female bands while being mentored by Billie Holiday, Fats Waller and Art Tatum.
Later in life, Scott became a trailblazer in Hollywood; an outspoken civil rights activist which made her a political target; and finally an outcast, after being ostracized from her then-husband’s renowned Harlem church because of her musical style.
One of the reasons we've chosen to devote a special to Scott is her under-appreciated place in music, despite activism in the entertainment industry that rivaled that of Paul Robeson.
"She was the first African American woman to host her own television show without sketch comedy or a variety of guests, and I was completely enamored by her story even before hearing any of her recordings, which are amazing and trailblazing," says McKnight. "Her story will be of great interest to historians, music lovers and musicians."
Playlist:
Lucky to Be Me
Leonard Bernstein, B. Comden, A. Green
Hazel Scott, piano
Decca
The Man I Love
George & Ira Gershwin
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Country Gardens
Percy Grainger
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Valse in D flat Major
Frederic Chopin
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Two Part Invention in A minor
Johann Sebastian Bach
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Mighty Like the Blues
Leonard Feather
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Blues in B Flat
Hazel Scott
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 in C Sharp Minor
Franz Liszt
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Mary Lou
Mary Lou Williams
J. Russel Robinson, Abe Lyman, George Waggner
Hazel Scott, piano
Columbia
C Jam Blues
Duke Ellington
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
For You, For Me, Forevermore
George & Ira Gershwin
Hazel Scott, piano
Decca
Love is the Thing
Ned Washington, Victor Young
Hazel Scott, piano
Decca
Just Imagine
B.G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, Roy Henderson
Hazel Scott, piano
Decca
Prelude in C sharp minor
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Hallelujah!
Vincent Youmans, Leo Robin and Clifford Grey
Hazel Scott, piano
Classics Records
Nightmare Blues
Hazel Scott
Hazel Scott, piano, voice
Columbia
Ev'ry Time
Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Hazel Scott, piano
Decca
I Wish I Didn't Love You So
Frank Loesser
Hazel Scott, piano
Decca
Follow WQXR
About All Ears with Terrance McKnight
All Ears with Terrance McKnight is a weekly show about musical discovery. Covering a wide range of styles, genres and periods, the show celebrates the diverse musical passions of its host, Terrance McKnight, as well as occasional guests -- including performers, composers, choreographers, critics and others. As music and ideas are experienced side by side, the power of music to transform is revealed and celebrated.
Hosted by Terrance McKnight
Comments [26]
The main difference of the Care4teen system from similar programs is that it gives you total knowledge and maximum control. With the help of remote access you can literally keep your finger on the pulse of your child’s Internet activities.
P.S. and all my appreciation to Karen Chilton, author of Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist, from Café Society to Hollywood to HUAC for opening yet another world to me of women in the arts. gina ballinger
quoting red paisley from manhattan
"It is so wrong that I have never heard of Hazel Scott before! Thank you, Terrance McKnight, for correcting this omission. She was an amazing woman." and also your ability to give a womans Herstory point of view : )thank you from one learning more and more of herstory in austria : ) gina ballinger
It is so wrong that I have never heard of Hazel Scott before! Thank you, Terrance McKnight, for correcting this omission. She was an amazing woman.
Of historical interest, I see that Hazel Scott's "Swingin' the Classics" recordings predate by decades such popular European groups as the Jacques Loussier Trio and the Swingles Singers. I bet they made more money off the practice than she did.
Thank you all for listening to this show and posting your comments here. Your enthusiasm makes me want to get started immediately on the next musical biography. Here's to Hazel
Just another note to thank you for putting together this ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS programme. The story of a life in music, it's ups and downs and ins and outs, following the muse as best one can, inspires me as I travel through my own life.
Have to agree with your many fans here, Terrance, this Hazel Scott show is terrific. I know these bio-audio shows are an awful lot of work, but what a great result, this is engaging and instructive. Well done.
Once you get used to Terence's programs . there's no going back to someone else. I thoroughly enjoyed the program!
A brilliant program about a brilliant woman. I loved hearing her and hearing about her. Thank you so much.
I am so thankful to you for producing this music - American Classical music - that which is written performed and played by a much neglected group of artists who receive little attention due too often to racism.
I am African American and feel so uplifted by your recognition and exposure of the contributions to the world of music by those who are African American.
Absolutely loved your show about Hazel Scott. What a beautiful mix of classics and jazz. Thanks for introducing her to your listening audience.
Fantastic program. Please do more musical biographies like this. I'm studying blues piano, and find these biographies inspiring.
This was a wonderful program -- I'm so glad I have WQXR to listen to on Saturday nights, and especially glad to hear your programs, Mr. McKnight.
Thank you for this amazing and fun program! The last piece she played wasn't by Liszt -- it's the famous C-sharp minor Prelude by Rachmaninoff.
Saw the news article and waited for the days to pass. Great music and bio about Hazel Scott. Looking foward to listening to your show in the future.My first time Thanks!!!! Stephanie
Prelude in C-sharp minor was Rachmaninoff.
Now this is interesting listening.
Thank you, this was highly interesting and informative. I didn't know much about her prior to this; I'll definitely be doing some followup reading and listening.
Terrance,
Thank you so much about this wonderful woman, Hazel Scott, of which I knew nothing before tonight. I am proud of you. As the 'old' saints at church used to say, "Keep on keeping on." The links with Mary Lou Williams, Lester Young, Dizzy, Billie etc...great!
Thanks also for your informative expose on Dr. Martin Luther King and his music. You are a gentleman and a scholar.
I am a black man from Kansas City KS who came to NY to pursue a career in entertainment. By God's grace, I did just that. God be with you, my brother.
Such a brilliant woman!
Beautifully done. I hope you get a Peabody.
Bravo! What a wonderful tribute. Thanks for bringing Hazel Scott and her times alive through the magic of radio and thank God for WQXR archives so we can go back and listen.
A remarkable, essential biography. You did so much in one hour. Thankyou.
Caught the last part of the Hazel Scott segment last night and was blown away. Thanks for shedding much needed light on this wonderful performer and Mary Lou Williams.
Wonderful program. Hazel Scott was an amazing, talented, and gutsy person! Heroic! Thank you for this program.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.