Rhoda Scott (Organist)
Rhoda Scott (b. July 3, 1938, Dorothy, New Jersey) is an African-American
hard bop and soul jazz organist.
The daughter of an AME minister, Scott spent much of her childhood in New
Jersey, where she learned to play organ in the churches where her father served.
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 and is
considered by many to be the top female jazz organist.
Scott was first attracted to the organ in her father’s church at age seven.
"It's really the most beautiful instrument in the world," she stated in a recent
interview. "The first thing I did was 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".
In 1967 Scott moved to France, where she has since spent most of her career
and earned recognition far greater than that accorded to her in the United
States, though she often performs in the latter country as well.
She has many famous standards in her repertory, like In the Mood, Theme from
New York, New York, Summertime, Mack the Knife, Take Five, Hit the Road Jack,
Greensleeves, Tico-Tico no Fuba, Let it Snow, and Delilah. In May 2011 in a
context of Versailles Jazz Festival she gave a significant performance together
with a classical organist Francis Vidil, combining sonic palettes of classical
organs with jazz and Hammond organs.
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