September 8th, 2005

My sister Jennifer, as you may already know, is a jazz musician. She has an amazing singing voice (classically trained, don't you know, before she turned black sheep and switched to jazz) and in recent years has become a pianist of extraordinary acumen. I mean, jazz musicians tend to be great musicians anyway, but she is the best of even that crowd ... and she moves in some awfully talented circles.

You know, I am her brother, so I am not going to ever say anything negative about her skills, of course, but those who know me will also know that I call things as I see them; I do not spin or whitewash, gloss over or spare folks' feelings. So, when I say that I think she is among the best of the best, I really mean it. Not just familial overhype.

By the way, you don't have to take my word for it; you can listen to her for yourself:

To get an idea, here's a review of her latest CD:

Is it possible to wear out CDs the way we used to wear out old LPs?

I don't know, but I'm going to find out, because I've been listening to Scott's latest, "Emotional Girl" almost nonstop since she released it. Such is the caliber of her musicianship that I would have been disappointed if this CD was merely excellent. Her fans and fellow musicians regularly remark that her abilities are at the very height of professionalism. So, in short, my expectations were very high.

But this disc blows me away!

There is that amazing voice of hers, which was always precise and controlled. You can hear it in songs like her cover of Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris" and in her own composition, a redux of "Road to Travel", which would fall flat on its face without the supreme accuracy of Scott's execution. And we've all come to expect the warm and friendly tones that make even non Jazz fans swoon--such as her amazing work in "Romario", one of her continuing nods to the Brazilian music that she clearly loves (and, I suspect, loves her back) and "Once I Loved" which she nails with textbook accuracy.

But there is a new dimension to her singing on this CD that sets it apart from her own high standards, and even the bulk of Jazz one can find in the stores today: She really has shown her "Emotional Girl" side to the world. Just listen to her wear her heart on her shirtsleeve as she sings the title track. Or just try not to reminisce about your own coming of age when you hear her cover of The Beatles' "She's Leaving Home." And the track that can move the most hardened and callous jazz listener to tears is her own piece, "I Will Not Waste Another Day" (I'd have bought this CD for this track alone).

The fact that she is joined by her musical collaborator and occasional co-performer Ed Johnson surely has done something wonderful to her performance abilities. But let's be clear: Johnson is his own great musician and Scott can take care of herself. There are no crutches between them: They compliment each other in quite the same way that a fine recipe is greater than the sum of the ingredients. Nothing borrowed, but much inspired.

Speaking of inspired, Scott's piano playing has jumped ahead in leaps and bounds. She doesn't just accompany herself; she's got the performance edge that many pianists who CAN'T sing would aspire to. Her playing is, as her singing, versatile: Sometimes warm and friendly, often virtuostic ... but always accessible and engaging. You would think that someone with Scott's singing abilities would have enough God-given talent there, but her piano skills distinguish her as well. Add to that a keen sense of creativity in her own tunes and the arrangement of others, and you have ... well, the best of the best on one CD.

Finally, kudos must go to Scott's husband, Rene Worst, for the utmost in production values on this disc. Worst, just as much a driving force as Scott, was never "just along for the ride" with her all these years; and now he demonstrates the same skill in front of the mixing board that he has always had on the other side of it. Time to go listen to her CD again.

- Rob Mackie

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