Search - Mabel Scott :: 1938-1950

All But Forgotten

08/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very little is known about the strikingly beautiful Mabel Scott, born on April 30, 1915 in Richmond, Virginia. She certainly never did receive the same acclaim as late 1940s contemporaries like Memphis Minnie, Hadda Brooks, or Camille Howard, but make no mistake - this classically-trained pianist could pound the keys and belt out jump tunes or torch ballads with the best of them.



That much is graphically demonstrated on her cuts for the small Hub and Exclusive labels from 1946 to 1948, many of which are presented in this fantastic compilation from Jazz Classics, especially on her only two hit singles, both registered with Exclusive. The first came in August 1948 when Elevator Boogie went to # 6 on what then passed for the R&B charts with the great Charles Brown featured on piano [she would become his wife in 1949, a marriage that would last only to 1951].



Later that year, in time for Christmas, her renowned Boogie Woogie Santa Claus was released and, even with the short life-span associated with seasonal songs, made it to # 12 R&B. Mabel also recorded for the King label in 1950, backed by some of the biggest names in the business at that time such as tenor sax man Buddy Tate, trumpeter Joe Wilder, and pianist Milt Buckner.



Now all but forgotten - although, thanks to Jazz Classics, you can sample her work through this CD. And Boogie Woogie Santa Claus should always be an integral part of any R&B Christmas compilation. Recommended."