Rhoda Scott (born July 3, 1938) is one of the greatest American hard bop and soul jazz organist. Her technical mastery and virtuosity combined with a perfect knowledge of the sonic possibilities of the instrument make her a living myth of the Hammond B3 organ.
The daughter of an AME minister, Scott spent much of her
childhood in Dorothy, New Jersey, where she learned to play organ in the
churches where her father served. “My father was sent to a church that had a
Hammond B3. I was about eight years old. I figured out how the organ worked by
myself. Eventually I played organ during all the church services. Only then did
my father realise that I had practised so much! This gave me a lot of
experience. I picked up a lot from hymn books and became a self-taught sight
reader”.
Soon she herself was serving frequently as organist for
youth and gospel choirs at her father's and other churches. Scott later studied
classical piano, but she concentrated on the organ, eventually earning a
Masters' degree in music theory from the
Manhattan School of Music. By this time she had been asked by a choir member to fill in with a small band as a jazz pianist. Enjoying the music, she agreed to stay on with the band on condition that she be allowed to play organ instead of piano. Choosing as her instrument the Hammond Organ, she soon became a preeminent jazz musician.
Manhattan School of Music. By this time she had been asked by a choir member to fill in with a small band as a jazz pianist. Enjoying the music, she agreed to stay on with the band on condition that she be allowed to play organ instead of piano. Choosing as her instrument the Hammond Organ, she soon became a preeminent jazz musician.
“It's really the
most beautiful instrument in the world,” she stated in a recent interview. “The
first thing I did was to take my shoes off and work the pedals.”From then on
she always played her church organ in her bare feet, and to this date she has
continued the practice, earning her nicknames such as “The Barefoot Lady” and
“The Barefoot Contessa.”
Following her lead, many other performers of popular organ music now also play barefoot.
Following her lead, many other performers of popular organ music now also play barefoot.
Nineteen-year-old Scott honed her jazz skills under the
tutelage of Richard “Groove” Holmes. She kept a job as assistant bookkeeper in
Manhattan, working jazz on the side. Subsequently, Count Basie saw her perform
in North Jersey, liked what he heard and booked her into his club in New York
City. Naturally, the support of Basie kick-started the career of Scott, whose
rhythm and blues-drenched soul-jazz playing (and singing) comes across to full
effect on the Live At The Key Club record from 1963.
“My style matured in the early 60s. My saxophone player,
Joe Thomas, was a big influence. I had learned Walk On The Wild Side note for
note. Joe said ‘You got to stop listening to organists. All you will be doing
is play clichés. Listen to saxophone players and singers’. That was very good
advice. I particularly got hung up with singers. I like my organ to sing.
Singers are my most important influences. Among others, I love Morgana King,
Frank Sinatra, Dakota Staton, Aretha Franklin and the classic blues singers”.
(from an interview with jazz journal).
Scott nonetheless grew to be disappointed by the American
musical climate. A study in Paris with the renowned Nadia Boulanger in 1967 was
the impetus for her move to France in 1968. She was enamored of the rebellious
spirit of May 1968 and fell in love with her future husband, Raoul Saint-Yves,
who passed away in 2008.
She earned recognition far greater than that accorded to her in the United States, though she often performs in the latter country as well. Rhoda recorded for a variety of labels including Verve, but the influence of Barclay on her career is immense. The label released 24 albums including compilations.
She earned recognition far greater than that accorded to her in the United States, though she often performs in the latter country as well. Rhoda recorded for a variety of labels including Verve, but the influence of Barclay on her career is immense. The label released 24 albums including compilations.
The Hammond organ is a powerful force in the world of
rock, pop and soul. Either as a hot-tempered kick in the butt or restrained
accompaniment, it is the glue between sections of many successful songs.
Notwithstanding ups and downs, organ jazz has been popular since the late 50s,
to the dismay of a considerable number
of critics. Has Scott felt the need to defend herself as a serious jazz artist? In a recent interview she replied, “I know that, in general, organists do not mean much to white American critics. The American conservatories have jazz programmes for every instrument except organ. That’s a shame”.
of critics. Has Scott felt the need to defend herself as a serious jazz artist? In a recent interview she replied, “I know that, in general, organists do not mean much to white American critics. The American conservatories have jazz programmes for every instrument except organ. That’s a shame”.
Scott has an exceptional musical memory: for example, she
knows more than a thousand songs by heart and she composes most of her
repertoire. During the 2004 Vienna Festival, she created the "Lady Quartet"
with Sophie Alour, Lisa Cat-Berro and Julie Saury. She recorded an album at
Sunset, rue des Lombards in Paris.
This ambassador for the Hammond organ has been
enthralling audiences worldwide for over forty years. She has played with the
greatest, Ray Charles, George Benson, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah
Morrow.
The 82 year old isn’t resting on her laurels. Scott, based in Chartres, France, recently released her new album Movin’ Blues and continues to perform with Lady Quartet and Ladies All Stars, co operations with top-notch female jazz artists from France. (Edited from Wikipedia & Jazz Journal which includes all quotes)
The 82 year old isn’t resting on her laurels. Scott, based in Chartres, France, recently released her new album Movin’ Blues and continues to perform with Lady Quartet and Ladies All Stars, co operations with top-notch female jazz artists from France. (Edited from Wikipedia & Jazz Journal which includes all quotes)
3 comments:
The Links with one,two or four stars ask for Password, even when they are not supposed to.
Thanks for your kind attention.
Hello Shagasha, That's what ytou get when trying to be clever, Will amend when time allows, but I know this one is ok
For “Rhoda Scott - Encore, Encore, Encore (2003)” go here:
https://mega.nz/file/nTZjACzL#DFSCCyeS_Z2oNoGjYW9p1Eb_HFXdl8lWreKxJBMdqwg
1. Mack The Knife
2. New York, New York
3. Sweet Sucker
4. Don't Worry 'bout Me
5. If I Should Lose You
6. Sunrise, Sunset
7. Do What'cha Gotta Do
8. Pistachio
9. It Might As Well Be Spring
10. Dearly Beloved
11. In The Mood
12. In The Mood Bis
Here's a revised list of a selected discography found on various music blogs. A big thanks to all credited up-loaders for active links. Hopefully all password free except those posted by egroj. Any problems let me know.
(1) Louis @ Walk In The Black Forest blog
(2) Jo @ leboncraignos blog
(3) egroj @ egroj world (PASSWORD: egroj)
(4) jazz ru.
(5) Intmusic.net
(6) zokyat @ Only Instrumental Music
1969 - A L'orgue Hammond, Take A Ladder (1)
https://mega.nz/file/DSQRFCYb#ArhrAnBirfKWwBuuJYSk4HlKKGzdAsEaECI0H3GLysc
1970 - Come Bach To Me (1)
https://mega.nz/file/yy4DTYxS#MLalxhnbJiyCRfgUVqDxRGz9hDlU3jLYkM5J7YzSDfE
1971 - A L'Orgue Hammond Vol. 2 (2)
http://ti1ca.com/8i6cidys-RhoScot-RhoScot.zip.html
1971 - Mach II (4)
https://turbobit.net/download/free/t44js3m8637o
1971 – Pepita (6)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0xrd8xr8rdaeo8z/Rhoda_Scott_-_Pepita_%25281971%2529.rar/file
1972 – Live At The Olympia (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/4wqnFapulwYN/rhoda-scott-live-at-the-olympia-rar
1974 - Live at the Club Saint-Germain (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/iQNZa1T13/rhoda-scott-live-at-club-saint-germaine-rar
1977 - Rhoda Scott & Kenny Clarke - Jazz In Paris (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/m8NkoMnEa/rhoda-scott-kenny-clarke-jazz-in-paris-rar
1978 - A l'orgue Hammond vol.3 "Come Bach To Me" (2)
https://ti1ca.com/h85d1y4x-RS78-RS78.zip.html
1980 - Take Five, In The Mood, Summertime (First record has previously unreleased music (or versions). Second record is a compilation of pieces recorded between 1975 and 1977. (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/spKCwUKfeL14/rhoda-scott-take-five-in-the-mood-summertime-rar
1981 – Stay (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/b1UviduE8mHg/rhoda-scott-stay-rar
1998 – Summertime (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/zqTkMenPrxkG/rhoda-scott-summertime-rar
1998 - Les Orgues De Noel (3)
https://ulozto.net/hledej?q=rhoda-scott-les-orgues-de-noel-rar
2005 - Rhoda Scott with Ricky Ford and Houston Person - Very Saxy (Live Au Méridien, Paris) (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/MfvNu0SmkzhU/rhoda-scott-very-saxy-live-au-meridien-rar
2008 – Live At The Club Duc Des Lombards (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/cKnBjMQHEf1b/rhoda-scott-live-at-the-club-duc-des-lombards-rar
2012 - Paris-New York (compilation 60’s & 70’s recordings) (3)
https://ulozto.net/file/FDa3v9SRi7Dt/rhoda-scott-paris-new-york-rar
2020 - Movin' Blues (5)
https://rapidgator.net/file/1147e69bbbce19aa73ef737f07dc6f18/Rhoda_Scott_-_Movin
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