CLASSICAL SWING !

A concert inspired by the female jazz legends Hazel Scott, Lil Hardin Armstrong, Dorothy Donegan and Nina Simone. These African American women were jazz stars who trained first as classical pianists. Lil Hardin Armstrong, Hazel Scott and Nina Simone in particular had aspired to be concert pianists but were denied access to the classical music industry on account of their colour. Hazel Scott later became famous for giving popular classical music a jazz spin with her style became known as 'classical swing'. Nina Simone's favorite composer was Bach and Dorothy Donegan said, that if she could,  she would give jazz up in order to pursue classical music. Lil Hardin Armstrong (Louis Armstrong’s second wife) is not only responsible for branding Louis Armstrong as a world class trumpet player but also taught him about classical music. Classical Swing is a concert of jazz, classical and genre fusion. 

Hazel's Boogie Woogie, Hazel Scott Arr Beatrice Nicholas.

In Memory of Hazel Scott:

Moonlight Sonata, Ludwig van Beethoven

East Town Boogie, LiL Hardin Armstrong, Arr Beatrice Nicholas

From the Spiritual Suite, Margaret Bonds.

-Troubled Water

-Valley of Bones ( with audience participation)

Hungarian Rhapsody No.2,  Franz Liszt (in a style inspired by Dorothy Donegan and Hazel Scott) .

An Improvisation by Nina Simone Arr Beatrice Nicholas

PRIVATE EVENT