Hazel Scott by Jennylynd James
Supported by Don & Francie Kendal
Inspired by missing live music concerts
Artist Statement
Jennylynd James worked for many years in the food industry in the US, Europe and Canada, and was introduced to oil painting, portraiture and sketching in 2009 while living in Ireland. As an emerging artist, she uses... the vivid colours of her heritage and global travel to influence her artwork.
From childhood, Jennylynd played the piano and sang in large choirs. Her recent paintings focus on a passion for stage performance and capturing the joy of making music.
Hazel Scott was a child prodigy. Born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in 1920, she moved with her mother to New York City at the age of four and studied music at the Julliard School.
Hazel became a very influential Jazz musician and singer in the United States and the first American woman to ever host her own TV show in 1950, The Hazel Scott Show. She was known to be a highly skilled Classical and Jazz pianist, sometimes playing two pianos at the same time.