| Jazz, standards, tribute
Hazel Dorothy Scott (1920–1981) was a brilliant jazz pianist and singer.
A child prodigy, she was raised by a classical pianist mother. She could play by ear the pieces she heard and began improvising at a very young age. At just 8 years old, she entered the Juilliard School, where she studied classical music—an influence she would carry throughout her career.
At 15, she opened for Count Basie. By the age of 20, she had recorded her first album and quickly became a fixture in New York clubs, performing alongside artists such as Duke Ellington and Paul Robeson. She also appeared on Broadway in several musicals, including Singing Out the News (1938) and Priorities of 1942 (1942).
As her fame grew, she launched a Hollywood career and became the first African American woman to host her own television show, The Hazel Scott Show, on DuMont Television Network starting in 1950. In 1955, she recorded Relaxed Piano Moods with Charles Mingus and Max Roach, one of her most renowned albums.
Beyond her musical achievements, she spoke out publicly against racial segregation and misogyny. As a result of her activism, her show was canceled, concerts were called off, and she faced accusations of communism. To escape the difficulties she encountered in the United States, she moved to France for several years. She returned to the U.S. in 1967 but never regained the same level of success.
Still too little known and underappreciated, Hazel Scott remains an exceptional pianist, celebrated for her legendary technique and deep musicality. Her music continues to resonate, inspiring generations of artists. Irina Leach, Léna Aubert, and Paul Lefevre pay tribute to her in this unique evening.
Irina Leach: piano
Léna Aubert: double bass
Paul Lefevre: drums
