Can someone tell me more about this artist? He's appearing at the Long Island jazz festival with Ahmad Jamal. Wondering if I should go and see him.

When will that be?
I'd like to see that gig as well.

Little Jimmy is one of those artists who you must see live to understand what they're about. His gigs are something else.
I hope to make it on Friday.
Another crazy commute from Brooklyn.

I am looking more to see Ahmad Jamal. The web site doesn't say if they are playing together or each doing their own thing.

I don't know what shape his voice is in these days, but put me in the camp that thinks he's one of the all-time greats, no questions asked.

Even if his voice is showing the signs of age (and I don't know that it is, that's just a rhetorical question), I'd think that his phrasing alone could carry the show.

I'd definitely go see him, especially if Jamal's on the bill. The giants are a rapidly thinning herd, bordering on extinction, and those two are definitely giants. Whether or not you're going to "like" him or not is kinda besides the point at this stage of the game.

i agree with that jim, and jamal is absolutely worth seeing!

Be sure to close your eyes while he is singing.

I've seen him three times, twice in Newark and more recently in Manhattan as part of a J & R Music Festival (3 years ago?). The audience was not into him at the J & R event. I suspect that may be the same for you if they are all going for Jamal. His voice was worse at the J & R gig, but it also was an outdoor venue. His phrasing is unique and interesting, though it teeters on the edge of being too mannered. But he'll probably do some signature songs, like Heaven Must be Missing an Angel and All of Me, which he generally does very well. I enjoyed seeing him perform, but I wouldn't rush out and buy all his records. One would probably be enough.

Well, I will go see him and kept an open mind.

He doesn't do anything for me. Close your eyes and his voice is too high more my taste. Sorry. I saw him at the J&R show and no one seemed to want to listen.

I agree with Jim, to me he is one of the great jazz balladeers. His '90s releases, 'All the Way, 'Dream' and 'Holding back the Years' are all highly recommended.

Some more love here for Scott! I only recently came to hear him first, when I picked up the astonishing "Falling in love.." - what a great recording! Then, I just got "Moon Glow" (Fantasy), too, and like that one pretty much. Check it out, Jim! It got lots of stars in Downbeat, and I think well-deserved ones!

ubu

Singers always are an acquired taste - you have to like the voice in the first place. Beyond that you can appreciate what they are doing, but they won't send chills down your spine .....
I appreciate Ella and Sarah, but they don't give me the chills. Other singers do, or make me groove and swing. Or make you dream. They either touch you or they don't.
Jimmy Scott is an individual stylist that deserves every bit of the recognition he at last got in recent years.
IMHO we always should distinguish between appreciation and personal tastes.

I've never seen Scott perform, but I have quite a few of his albums and I'm a huge fan. The one that I reach for often is "Heaven," which is a product of a collaboration with pianist Jackie Terrason, and I listen to the Savoy box set that collects his Savoy (and one Atlantic) recordings which are wonderful to my ears---showing Scott grow through the fifties and sixties and full of great music.

I only have Falling in Love, but I love it to bits!
Saw him on TV a couple of years back, on Jules Hollands program, and didnt like it, then recently turned on the box mid way through a film about a hotel (Chelsea?) and saw him perform Lennons Imagine (and if I never hear that song again it will be too soon!) alone in a room and he was magnificent!

I can also recommend his work on SAVOY - 1 or 2 cds out - great stuff! R&B flavored jazz with stings, horns, ...I think cecil Payne on bari sax...also - "Embraceable Yew" with Bird at Birdland!

I can't wait for the show Friday, both Scott and Jamal together. Show make for a nice sound.

I have FALLING IN LOVE (based on Jim's rec), EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY'S FOOL (a comp of his early-50s Decca recordings), and a one-CD sampler promo from the Savoy box, and I like 'em all much.

BTW Bob Porter featured Scott's 1950s recordings on "Portraits in Blue" last Saturday. Don't know if that program's archived or not, though.

P.S. Was it ever determined for certain whether or not it's Scott singing "Embraceable You" on the Parker ONE NIGHT IN BIRDLAND release?

So I went and saw both Jimmy Scott and Ahmad Jamal. Both shows were wonderful. I have to say I did enjoy Jimmy Scott's singing. Did anyone else get to see the shows?

I was there. I went for Jamal, who I've never actually heard but read a lot about and enjoyed his set a lot. Excellent phrasing and original compositions.

Scott was nice. I don't like male jazz singing, but he's got his own style and I always respect that. He does, indeed, sound like a woman.

Ahamd did put on a great show. The band was very tight.