Wild Soul Jazz From New Jersey’s Rhoda Scott

Rhoda Scott “I-Yi-Yi-Yi Pt. 1” (Tru Sound, 1963)

Good afternoon internet friends! I’m writing from western mass on a beautiful late summer day fresh from the dentist.  One less tooth in my mouth and with no feeling in half my face I thought, lets talk music!

Today’s record, I have to admit, I only picked up because of the title.  I like to grab all the non-sense titles I can when I see them and at the time, not being familiar with label or artist was purely hoping for some musical gobbledegook.  Imagine my excitement when I put this slab of wax on my table and the music began.

Good natured ribbing of the audience to open up and some killer uptempo organ driven soul jazz.  “Well alright!”

Rhoda is an American born organist, being raised in New Jersey by her Minister father and church piano playing mother she was never far from the instrument and picked it up at an early age.  An encounter with a member of her church band, Lee Lewis, who needed a fill-in piano player allowed her the chance to flex her muscle with some of the secular R&B she had been hearing on the radio and she did not disappoint.  She ended up playing with him until the early 60’s when she started playing on her her own impressing the head of Tru-Sound Ozzie Cadena who released a few albums and singles, including todays.

Her engagements in local clubs got her noticed by none other than Count Basie which ended up with an invitation to play at his Harlem lounge.  It is here her career takes a left turn; despite her growing success she decided to continue to pursue her musical education.  During her time at Manhattan School of Music it was suggested she go to Paris to continue her studies.  While there she met her husband, eventually making Paris her permanent home.

Her stature in Europe has continued to grow while in the states she has been unfortunately overlooked despite her impressive body of work both past and present.

I hope you enjoy today’s 45 as much as I do!

All the best,

-George / Snack Attack

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