Hazel Scott never needed a spotlight — she created her own. A resurfaced 1943 video circulating online has reignited worldwide admiration for the Trinidad-born, New York-raised musical prodigy who could command not one but two grand pianos at once with a confidence and elegance rarely seen in modern performance.
In the clip, Scott — dressed with her signature Hollywood glamour — swivels effortlessly between the pianos. One moment, each hand is on a different instrument; the next, both hands race across a single keyboard before snapping back to the other.
The music is fast, fiery, and breathtaking, and her fingers glide with such ease that the technical difficulty almost disappears behind her radiant composure.
For many, the video is a stunning rediscovery. For others, it’s a reminder that Hazel Dorothy Scott remains one of the most gifted, yet historically under-recognized, musicians of the 20th century.
A Prodigy Who Redefined Classical and Jazz Performance
Born in Port of Spain and brought to Harlem at age four, Scott was quickly recognized as extraordinary. By eight, she had won scholarships to the Juilliard School. By her teens, she was performing in jazz bands; by 16, she was already on national radio.
Scott mastered both classical and jazz repertoires, refusing to choose between them at a time when racial segregation imposed limits on every part of American life. Her performances — especially her signature “swinging the classics” style — captivated audiences worldwide.
The First Black Woman to Host Her Own TV Show
In 1950, The Hazel Scott Show made television history. Scott became the first woman of color to host a national network program, bringing a sophisticated blend of music and conversation into American living rooms.
Her visibility, however, made her a target during the McCarthy era. Rather than submit to political persecution, she moved to Paris in the late 1950s, performing throughout Europe and remaining a powerful voice for Black dignity and artistic integrity.
She returned to the U.S. in 1967 and continued to perform until her death in 1981 at age 61.
A Legacy Larger Than Music
Scott was not only an artistic force — she was politically fearless. She refused to perform for segregated audiences, challenged racist film roles, and used her visibility to expand opportunities for African Americans in entertainment and classical music.
She now rests at Flushing Cemetery in Queens, alongside other jazz giants including Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie.
The renewed attention to her 1943 performance serves as both inspiration and overdue recognition.
Hazel Scott didn’t just play music. She expanded what was possible for generations after her.
