CD review: Hazel Scott – Great Scott! Collected Recordings 1939-57 – 2023: Video, CD cover

Hazel Scott was a jazz pianist and singer, about whom we hear very little these, but who was a stylish and respected performer, especially known for her jazz interpretations of classical pieces and styles, but also a noted composer as well as a fine vocalist with a sophisticated approach to the Great American Songbook.

This 69-track 3-CD collection brings together a significant proportion of her recordings during the primary era of her career, before she largely relocated to France in the wake of McCarthy-ite persecution as a committed civil rights activist.

It features solo piano recordings, plus piano and vocal performances with small groups and orchestras, so offers an entertaining cross-section of her output for the Bluebird, Decca, V-Disc, Signature, Columbia, Capitol and Debut labels. It includes most of the titles from her albums “Swinging The Classics”, “A Piano Recital”, “Great Scott”, “Grand Jazz”, “Relaxed Piano Moods” and “Round Midnight”, and features recordings with Charles Mingus, Max Roach, J.C. Heard, Sidney Catlett, Toots Camarata, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Caceres, Red Callender, Everett Barksdale and many others.

It’s a substantial and enjoyable showcase for a talented artist whose work deserves a much higher profile than she has generally enjoyed.

DISC 1

1 Calling All Bars Sextet of the Rhythm Club of London
2 Mighty Like The Blues Sextet of the Rhythm Club of London
3 You Gave Me The Go-By Sextet of the Rhythm Club of London
4 Why Didn’t William Tell? Sextet of the Rhythm Club of London
5 Ritual Fire Dance Hazel Scott
6 Two-Part Invention In A Minor Hazel Scott
7 Country Gardens Hazel Scott
8 Prelude In C Sharp Minor Hazel Scott
9 Valse In D Flat Major Hazel Scott
10 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Hazel Scott
11 Hazel’s Boogie Woogie Hazel Scott
12 Blues In B Flat Hazel Scott
13 Embraceable You Hazel Scott
14 Three Little Words Hazel Scott
15 Dark Eyes [Otchitchornyia] Hazel Scott
16 Hallelujah Hazel Scott
17 People Will Say We’re In Love Hazel Scott
18 Honeysuckle Rose Hazel Scott
19 Body And Soul Hazel Scott
20 C Jam Blues Hazel Scott
21 Take Me In Your Arms Hazel Scott
22 I’m Glad There Is You Hazel Scott
23 Fascinating Rhythm Hazel Scott

DISC 2

1 I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans Hazel Scott
2 Valse In C Sharp Minor Hazel Scott
3 Fantasie Impromptu Hazel Scott
4 Nocturne In B Flat Minor Hazel Scott
5 A Rainy Night In G Hazel Scott
6 How High The Moon Hazel Scott
7 Sonate In C Minor – Toccata Hazel Scott
8 On The Sunny Side Of The Street Hazel Scott
9 I’ve Got The World On A String Hazel Scott
10 Butterfly Kick Hazel Scott
11 Ich Vill Sich Spielen Hazel Scott
12 Soon Hazel Scott
13 Love Me Or Leave Me Hazel Scott
14 Emaline Hazel Scott
15 Love Will Find A Way Hazel Scott
16 Mary Lou Hazel Scott
17 Dancing On The Ceiling (He Dances On My Ceiling) Hazel Scott
18 Nightmare Blues Hazel Scott
19 Brown Bee Boogie Hazel Scott
20 That Old Black Magic Hazel Scott
21 For All We Know Hazel Scott
22 Tinkerbell Blows Again Hazel Scott
23 Soothe Me Hazel Scott
24 Un Gamin De Paris Hazel Scott
25 Whatever Happened To Captain Hook Hazel Scott

DISC 3

1 J’aime Bien Paris Hazel Scott
2 Like Someone In Love Hazel Scott
3 Peace Of Mind Hazel Scott
4 Lament Hazel Scott
5 The Jeep Is Jumpin’ Hazel Scott
6 Git Up From There Hazel Scott
7 A Foggy Day Hazel Scott
8 Mountain Greenery Hazel Scott
9 In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning Hazel Scott
10 It’s You Or No One Hazel Scott
11 It’s Easy To Remember Hazel Scott
12 Just Imagine Hazel Scott
13 Lucky To Be Me Hazel Scott
14 ‘Round Midnight Hazel Scott
15 I Wish I Didn’t Love You So Hazel Scott
16 For You, For Me, For Evermore Hazel Scott
17 Ev’ry Time Hazel Scott
18 Maybe Hazel Scott
19 Love Is The Thing Hazel Scott
20 Warm All Over Hazel Scott

Piano – Hazel Scott