Hazel Scott & Charles Mingus

[viggosimonsen]

Absolutely gorgeous!

Like a cross between Sara Vaughan and Mary Lou Williams.

I love that song; so elegant in harmony and melody. I have it with Art Tatum and Buddy de Franco.

This is American culture at its best.

[EGomezbest]

What a great year 1955 proved to be in history! EGomezbest

[Glengo100]

Yeah!!!!

[junegrey]

fuck...she is great!!!!!!!!!!

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

i would preefer a rancid hazel nut

sorreey, Rab

[1013ET]

She is not only a virtuoso but also a charming, elegant and so entertaining musician. It is amazing that she can play as good as F. Waller or F. Liszt!

[airbrush504]

A foggy day in londen twon !!!

[joebassplayer]

i love how mingus sing/scats through her solo!

[hajune]

Concerning females Hazel was without peer in developing music from one genre to another. As a child prodigy she was discovered early and a Julliett scholarship resulted. I am amazed at how ONE she is with the piano. It is as she and the piano are one body. There was an inner confidence with her that seemed to say I am good and I know you know I am good .I am going to perform for you so enjoy.

[jposlc]

No way. The best.

[blanchelle]

She shows off some technique. Jumbles the rhythm in a clever way, here and there, with her trilling fingers, but bass and drums hold things steady. Fine music!!

[godhelpme2009]

@blanchelle...,sounds like your saying ,"pretty good for a girl, but good thing the men were there to keep it real otherwise her clever little technique wouldn't amount to much."

[blanchelle]

You read something into my message which is not there. Scott is a fantastic pianist.

[godhelpme2009]

@blanchelle, i'll assume U R absolutely right that I mis-read U & so I apologize.I can still see Y I thought the phrase "shows off" &the words "jumble", "clever", &then the phrase ",BUT bass and drums hold things steady" could make it sound like it only worked b/c the drum & bass were able to save what would have just been superficial showing off on her part. Even the term "fine" is used by people to damn something w/ faint praise, so I can still easily mis-read it as condescension. Sorry .

[godhelpme2009]

@blanchelle, i'll assume U R absolutely right that I mis-read U & so I apologize.I can still see Y I thought the phrase "shows off" &the words "jumble", "clever", &then the phrase ",BUT bass and drums hold things steady" could make it sound like it only worked b/c the drum & bass were able to save what would have just been superficial showing off on her part. Even the term "fine" is used by people to damn something w/ faint praise, so I can still easily mis-read it as condescension. Sorry .

[EtrofOnaip]

Look for :

The Heat's On Mae West

for more Hazel !!

[bluesjaye]

Hi Folks, This is great to see. Her performance in the Gershwin 'bio' movie Rhapsody in Blue steals the show. She and her husband were members, but there's a difference between 'American communists' of that time and Stalinist murderers. Ms. Scott and her husband were not Stalinist murderers they were dewy-eyed idealists interested in social justice not five year plans from with central command. Commies had to register 'cause they advocated the violent overthrow of the US government.

[livegems]

@bluesjaye They were black and wanted an answer... to oppression. Wrong answer but ... that's also why some black people go Muslim. It's to find a better perspective from which to work and live. The strict Muslim thing is crazy of course, but they get (were) desperate... faced by white people owning everything.

[hajune]

She was a child prodigy. She received a scholarship at Jullliett. She is highly acclaimed as one of the greatest pianoists ever. She could play classical, jazz, and traditional. One must play classical in a totally different manner.The hand movements are different. Few can do this and still do justice to other forms of music. Is she playing the piano or is the piano playing her? She is totally at one with it. She was a very sexy lady too.Wish there was more tape of her.A true mega talent.

[MissEgasMoniz]

Fab

[cavemancyborg]

This is pretty rad. What a beautiful lady. Looks like a kineoscope transfer.

[Tsadik6251]

I love this song. I love her.

[davidian0616]

bravo....nuff said..

[tehutimes1]

I heard an interview on npr I don't recall Adam Clayton Powell 3rd saying his parents were "communists'.If they symphathised with communist ideas that was their prerogative the U.S. supposedly has freedom of speech though it basically applies to certain folks & not others A lot of U.S. citizens have trouble understanding democracy let alone other govt. systems. Joe Wilson is in the Sons of the Confederacy but thats pro-democracy,to some while Ms.Sotomayor quit her Latina Womens club.

[StyIesOfBeyond]

lol

[dahliafully]

from a televised performance to raise money for the March of Dimes.

[debjame]

Beautiful, really moving.

[Hazy123456789]

my name is Hazel

[bazuinwhale]

I believe she was the first or 2nd Black woman to have her own television show. Eleanor Collins in Vancouver was about the same time. Then she was smeared by Mc Carthy her show was canceled and it was over ten years before Pearl Baily got a show.

[livegems]

@bazuinwhale @bazuinwhale You see, McCarthy was another way to crush freedom of life, that might have threatened the corporate giants. A black woman with a show, and one who plays piano? No way! In the 60s-80s (JFK to... John Lennon?) it was done by assassination, and now, it's done by fear of (and no doubt the framing of) terrorists. The aim again: to stem off potential threats to mass profits.

[limblessful]

@bazuinwhale great piece of history.

[limblessful]

Great.. piece of history.

[tehutimes1]

In addition to her talent she was a human rights activist labeled "communist"by conservative trash & bootlickers who served such trash.The Annenbergs were probaly fans of her tho that would be hard for Palin,Hannity,Juan Williams, Jesse Lee Peterson, & Limbaugh to comprehend with their deranged minds.

[hajune]

Her famous husband and she were indeed communists. You can not get around it. It hurt her career. she was amazingly talented. Wish it were not true ,but it is.

[Tsadik6251]

They were not communists. But if you insist that any Black person who desires equitable treatment in America is communist, then please count me in that august group as well. I insist.

[hajune]

There are many examples of Powell's affilation to communism. During the depression he endorsed the Harlem communist leader very enthusiasically . It is undeniable. He divorced Hazel in the 50's and I believe she resciended herself from his beliefs. For those giving me the negative marks, history is history. You may try to to revise the truth but the truth is the truth. As stated Hazel Scott was an amazing talent and deserves far more credit then she has gotten. Got a schlorship at Julliet

[1archer1]

i appreciate your balanced commentary. there were many good people used and duped by communism back in the day before it was a clearly evident evil to the average person. this didn't make them bad people or even unintelligent people. what happened to hazel scott and some others who got caught up in the confusion and extremism was tragic.

[hajune]

Well balanced thoughts. Communism of course is unworkable at best and evil at worse. Some believed in it and then walked away when they discovered it did not work.

[lalamama4real]

What a beautifully gifted and talented person. Both singing and piano playing. It was sad to read what someone previously had written - that by the 1970's she was playing somewhere being totally ignored! What a shame.

[Sqaaak]

Could someone post the date of the date of this videotaping?

(Gotta be in the 50s or very early 60s)

Thank you.

[AnthonyCarelly]

55'

[hajune]

Truly one of the most under rated super stars of the past. she was gifted playing the organ and piano( she got a Juliet schlorship) and well as being a great singer. she was good and she knew she was good, and you knew she was good and she knew that you knew she was good.

[Sqaaak]

Do you mean Juilliard?

[netwitt1]

I saw Hazel smoke a keyboard in "I Dood It" and I couldn't believe anyone could play that fast and soooo cooly. She looked like she was out for a walk in the park. Wow. What a musician!

[richarddubuquejr]

I just saw her in the movie "Rhapsody in Blue" and had to You Tube her. Thank you for the post. A new talent (to me) to learn about.

[popllyfe]

Marvelous.

[keepthemusicplaying0]

Wonderful performance, great artist, thanks for posting :-)

[caponsacchi1]

In Hollywood movies she could flirt with the camera and play counterpuntal lines as though 2nd nature. No wonder Roach and Mingus decided to produce her for their record label Debut. When I caught Hazel in Manhattan in the '70s, she was a tired-looking, disenchanted, blase if not sad person. She was house pianist, the chattering crowd was ignoring her, and Hazel didn't seem to care one way or the other.  She probably needed the money, after the gov't nailed AC Powell and cut off any alimony.

[Brownpride88]

She was beautiful! rip Hazel

[widowmakor]

What a fantastic video! This is what youtube should be about - not ripping off current shows - but sharing lost footage for all

[FuturedaveyP]

@widowmakor It should be for all footage possible. The people creating the entertainment would want their performances available for all to see- its the business side of things that messes it up- that part has nothing to do with the talent on display. There's so much stuff out there that if footage isnt up here, chances are you may never ever see it. I have a box of VHS tapes with live stuff from the last 20 yrs which i can finally throw away as most of it is up here thank god.

[BUFFEDDIVO]

There was another GREAT YouTube clip of Miss Scott playing, "Taking A Chance On Love", from an old Red Buttons or Skelton movie. I don't see it here anymore, though. Would you happen to have that one? THAT WAS AWESOME!!! She does so stride piano moves which, even when I THINK about it, leaves my jaw on the floor!!! THIS LADY WAS BAD!!!