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Jimmy Scott: Moon Glow
by Jess Rosenstock
No matter how you define it, a real “jazz singer" is exactly what Jimmy Scott is. His phrasing and delivery are simply impeccable, and – though at age 78 his voice may be a bit rough around the edges – he sings straight from the heart. Scott's newest release offers up ten ballads sung in his typical unpredictable and captivating style. This is prime Scott luring the listener into each song with his subtle nuances and revealing ...
Continue ReadingJimmy Scott: Moon Glow
by Chris M. Slawecki
It took a long time in coming, but Jimmy Scott’s sure found his career groove with his series of “comeback” albums with Todd Barkan for the Milestone label. Barkan somehow knows how to set up Scott’s distinctive vocal presence – an unparalleled dynamic between the performer's exquisite sense of jazz and blues timing, and the ravages of Kallmann’s Syndrome on his voice – with simple perfection. On his fourth Milestone set, Scott burns like a classic torch singer through classic ...
Continue ReadingJimmy Scott: Moonglow
by C. Michael Bailey
There is something strangely perfect about Jimmy Scott’s singing. And I do not attribute this to his well-documented Kallman’s Syndrome, a condition that has preserved his beautiful high tenor. Mr. Scott’s recordings are characterized by an uncharacterizable voice and delivery that keeps the listener off center. This works both to his advantage and disadvantage. While “Moonglow" is delivered and accepted with a smile, the Beatles’ “Yesterday" is offered with disconcerting vocal starts and stops. Still provocative, it is not bad, ...
Continue ReadingFaith in Time: the Life of Jimmy Scott By David Ritz
by Joel Roberts
Faith in Time: The Life of Jimmy ScottDavid RitzDaCapo Press (2002)ISBN: 0306810883272 pages Blessed with one of the sweetest voices and kindest dispositions in jazz, Jimmy Scott has also been cursed with some of the worst luck – though the still vibrant 77-year-old song stylist would never admit that. Despite years of neglect by audiences, mistreatment by managers and record labels, endless taunts over his androgynous voice and appearance, ...
Continue ReadingJimmy Scott: Over the Rainbow
by AAJ Staff
Though age may be taking its toll on the unmistakable voice of Jimmy Scott, that is not stopping the “Little" (in physical stature only) legend from making the most of his recent renaissance. No longer considered a novelty, this powerful performer is putting out some of the best work of his career. With the support of fellow big swingers like George Mraz and David “Fathead" Newman, Scott squeaks and struts his way through some of the great unsung (or at ...
Continue ReadingJimmy Scott: Everybody's Somebody's Fool
by AAJ Staff
On this new collection of career-launching sides, Jimmy Scott primarily deals with two main issues: the fool and Fortune. While Scott was often made to play the former thanks to the development-stunting condition that the latter foisted upon him, he has enough conviction and strength (both vocally and otherwise) to deliver a star-making performance. From the opening horn punch of the collection’s title track, Scott is demanding attention be paid despite his diminutive size. This attention is rewarded with an ...
Continue ReadingJimmy Scott: Falling In Love Is Wonderful
by C. Michael Bailey
There is no other voice in Jazz like Jimmy Scott’s Voice... The Eighteenth Century saw the zenith of a subset of opera singers known collectively as the castrati. These singers, eunuchs relieved of their primary sexual characteristics between the ages of 7 and 10 years, had voices full, with high range and perfect timbre. Technically, the normal male voice deepens during puberty under the pressure of increasing secretion of the male sex hormone testosterone, or more probably its ...
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