Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jimmy Scott: Profiles

121

Jimmy Scott: Profiles

By

Sign in to view read count
Jimmy Scott: Profiles
No singer in jazz or popular music can convey heartache and loss with the conviction of Jimmy Scott. Then again, few have endured the struggles and overcome the challenges that the Cleveland native with the inimitable soprano has faced over his long and remarkable career.

This compilation in Milestone's Profiles series draws from a set of albums Scott recorded for the label over a short span from 2000-01, when he was about 75 and about a decade following his triumphant return to the music scene after years working outside the business. The album focuses on Scott's idiosyncratic, behind-the-beat reading of standards, mostly ballads—"Moonglow, "Darn that Dream (featuring a cameo from Wynton Marsalis), "If I Should Lose You, "How Long Has This Been Going On —which he interprets with a flair and drama like no one else.

Scott's voice, delicate and nearly feminine, is peerless, maybe not as pure in its eighth decade as it once was, but thoughtful, worldly and wise nonetheless. Even tunes that could sound hackneyed in lesser hands, like "Smile ("Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though it's breaking ), are sung with a poignancy and sincerity that make you pay attention to every word.

With able assistance from an all-star cast that includes Cyrus Chestnut, Renee Rosnes, Grady Tate, Hank Crawford and David "Fathead Newman (who delivers a searing sax solo on a heartrending version of "Strange Fruit ), Scott delivers a virtual master class in the art of jazz singing. And he's still out there on the road at the age of 81—don't miss him!

Track Listing

Smile; Moonglow; Mood Indigo; Without A Song; Darn That Dream; Pennies From Heaven; Strange Fruit; How Long Has This Been Going On; If I Should Lose You; Please Send Me Someone To Love.

Personnel

Jimmy Scott
vocals

Jimmy Scott: vocals; Eric Alexander, Hank Crawford: saxophone; Joe Beck: guitar; Cyrus Chestnut, Renee Rosnes: piano; Gregoire Maret: harmonica; Wynton Marsalis: trumpet; George Mraz: bass; Grady Tate: drums; others.

Album information

Title: Profiles | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Milestone

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.