Alma Long Scott

Alma Long Scott was an Trinidadian-American jazz pianist and music teacher, best known as mother of jazz pianist Mildred Scott.
Life and career
Scott was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1899. Raised in an elite local family, she received classical training on the piano and performed within Port of Spain. She married R. Thomas Scott, a West African scholar from Liverpool, England, and had her first child, Hazel Scott, in 1920.
After her marriage to R. Thomas Scott broke up in 1924, Alma and Hazel migrated to the U.S. and settled in Harlem. She took work as a domestic maid to support her young daughter, but continued to perform. Connecting with the burgeoning jazz scene in early 1920s Harlem, she established herself as an accomplished pianist. She also formed the all female Alma Long Scott jazz band, which included Lil Hardin Armstrong as well as her teenage daughter Hazel on piano and trumpet. Though she remained active as a musician, even learning the trumpet to perform in Hardin's own orchestra in the 1930s, Alma transferred most of her dreams as a performer onto her talented young daughter.
Relationship with Hazel Scott
Alma noted her daughter Hazel's musical talent from a young age. While giving piano lessons, Alma often noticed Hazel screaming out when one of her students hit a wrong note. Recognizing her musically sensitive ear, Alma enrolled Hazel in Juilliard at the age of 8, where she received classical piano instruction from Paul Wagner. Alma's association with a number of famed musicians of the era including Lester Young, Art Tatum and Fats Waller also provided valuable guidance. Hazel later described the Scott household as "a mecca for musicians." Alma maintained a supportive role as Hazel and became nationally known as a performer and as the first woman of color to host a network television program. Hazel credited her mother as the biggest influence in her life.

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