Hazel Scott
Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist

Hazel Scott was a pioneering jazz and classical pianist, vocalist, recording and concert artist and civil rights spearhead starting in the late 1930's and early 1940's. At a time when most audiences were still segregated, she insisted and had it written in her contracts that she wouldn't perform unl......more

This was a wonderful surprise read for me. I heard about the book while watching one of the HBF panels where Karen Chilton discussed the book. It turns out that my liibrary had so I requested it. It was a suprise read in many ways - biography/memoir is not my fav genre and when reading non-fiction boo......more

Wow, what a legacy Ms. Scott leaves behind. Although heralded in a very covert way on a historic level, her work as a pianist and activist, just two of the many hats she wore, showed what the human spirit, in all its resilience and intrinsic benevolence can become. I also lament the ill-treatment sh......more

Well organized and engaging. Since it was a University of Michigan Press publication, I thought it was going to be more academic in style, but this is a biography written in a popular style with little attention given to analysis of her music or recordings. I was also annoyed by the lack of dates; I......more

A great read about a truly incredible life. The rise and fall of one of Jazz's brightest stars, nearly forgotten. Book contains a casting call of mid century jazz titans, fascinating tales both Harlem and abroad, politics, civil rights, and heartbreak. Some sections are a bit dry and info dumpy, but......more