Rhoda Scott
|
|
Rhoda Scott is an American jazz musician.
RhodaScott.jpg
The latter achieves an original synthesis in her productions and in her music and she allows herself with grace and joy to combine themes which are typically jazz, other religious, but also themes from classical music played in jazz.
A signature characteristic of Scott is that she plays barefoot — that is, with her bare feet controlling the organ's expression pedal and working the pedalboard, which she uses to produce and strengthen the organ's bass line. This has won Scott the nickname "the Barefoot Lady." While some classically-trained organists tend to look down on this practice, normally choosing instead to wear organ shoes, Scott has performed in her bare feet ever since she played organ in church as a young girl. Following her lead, many other female organists, especially those specializing in popular repertoire, now regularly play barefoot with great success.
A minister's daughter, brought up in the classical music tradition, and having attended Manhattan School of Music in New York, surrounded by traditional Afro-American music, how could it be otherwise?
This is what she demonstrates in her music. Thus it is not surprising to discover, other than her original compositions, well-known jazz tunes, classical music themes or French airs at the same time as certain Gospels or Negro spirituals.
All of this comes from the essence of her personality and the unique characteristics of the Hammond organ, so original on the level of jazz music.
While she is American, Scott plays internationally and spends much of her time amid the jazz scene in France.
External links
- Rhoda Scott website (http://www.rhodascott.com)