But Beautiful—Jimmy Scott

(Milestone — MCD 9321-2)

At age seventy-six, Jimmy Scott still has that unforgettable voice that nobody else can hope to copy. The only person who tried (and unsuccessfully, we might add) was actor Joe Pesci, who, after hearing Scott sing, put out an album of jazz and soul tunes several years ago on the Brunswick label during his pre-movie star, salad days. No joke.

But what is no laughing matter is the fact that But Beautiful is the best Jimmy Scott album since his 1992 to 1996 output on the Sire and Warner Bros. labels. It's partly due to the fact that But Beautiful features some fantastic players including Wynton Marsalis, Eric Alexander, Joe Beck and pianist Renee Rosnes. His rhythm section is comprised of Lewis Nash and George Mraz, so, rest assured, Scott's elusive butterfly of a voice is in secure hands.

The priceless duet between Scott and Freddy Cole on "When You Wish Upon a Star" represents the sum of many, many decades of combined vocal mastery. Rosnes is dynamite too; her solos shimmer and shine. On more up-tempo tunes like "Bye Bye Blackbird" and the grits-and-gravy blues of "It Had To Be You," Scott takes command. One thing is certain: In these current vocal-crazy jazz times, Little Jimmy has sure picked an opportune time to deliver a gem release.