Although she didn’t refer to it as third stream and it wasn’t associated with the genre of jazz, Hazel Scott was another musician that found a way to successfully blend jazz and classical influences. Scott used classical music and improvised, a tradition that dates back to the ragtime era. These numbers include “Hungarian Rhapsody”, no. 2″ (Liszt), backed by “Valse In D Flat Major”, op. 64 no. 64 no. Scott was also an excellent bebop soloist and a fine ballad interpreter. She was also a fair blues player and underrated singer. Scott’s nightclub act was often better than her albums. The absence of mitigating factors like audience or club setting meant that her compositions were subject to more scrutiny than they could handle. Scott began studying classical piano at Juilliard when she was eight years old. She also played jazz in clubs. In the late ’30s, Scott was a popular attraction at both downtown and uptown Cafe Society branches. Scott started her own radio station in 1936 and appeared on Broadway in 1938. She was also in five movies during the 1940s, including Rhapsody in Blue. Songs like “Love Comes Softly” or “Nightmare Blues” were written by her. Scott married Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in 1965. They had a television show together and their high-profile marriage ended in divorce. The national obsession with Powell’s influence, activities, and behavior led to a breakdown of their relationship. Scott recorded for Decca Signature, Tioch and Columbia. However, her best jazz album, Relaxed Piano Moods for Charles Mingus’ Debut label, was released by Scott in 1955. Scott was joined by Max Roach and Mingus on this session. This is her only CD date. Allmusic
