By Javier Antonio Quinones Ortiz
Misfortunes with happy endings have a moving power of their own. That’s a way of describing both the life and the unique effects of Jimmy Scott’s singing.
In the documentary Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew we witness the unfolding of a seemingly tragic tale of missing hormones, a Mafiosi-like crook whose life was an embarrassment for the music industry, sex or lack thereof, truly unique singing and music, the meaning and practice of family, friendship and business, ever evolving wisdom in one’s acceptance of fate, with an unexpected serendipitous conclusion. The premise of the film is rather obvious and effective: if one were to know what’s behind a physically undeveloped man whose singing has a moving power beyond measure, the viewer will not remain the same. One salient aspect of Scott’s life, congruent in many ways with the experiences told by Ken Baker in his book Man Made A Memoir of My Body, is a redefinition of what it means to be a man.
The picture follows the familiar format of splicing performances with commentary from friends, family, former and current associates, over a bevy of interventions by author David Ritz who wrote Faith in Time: The Life of Jimmy Scott. This is a highly recommended documentary that opens up several issues for public discussion, among them, why Ray Charles’ Tangerine Records has delayed the reissue of Falling in Love is Wonderful, touted as one of the greatest vocal jazz records ever.
Music by: Jimmy Scott and The Jazz Expressions
Edited by: Jacob Bricca
Sound Design by: Randy Perry
Producer: Sylvio Sharif Tabet
Executive Producers: Diedrich Bader & Terry Mulroy
Produced by: Brian Gerber & Matthew Buzzell
Shot & Directed by: Matthew Buzzell
Contact and availability information can be found at Tree Media.