Jimmy Scott

Jimmy Scott

But Beautiful (Fantasy) This ranks among the best recordings that vocalist Jimmy Scott has cut since his comeback. His singing, as usual, is top-notch, but on top of that this album is very well produced. Scott is accompanied by very simpatico instrumentalists, and the selection of songs on But Beautiful brings out the best in the 76-year-old one-of-a-kind vocalist. There are a couple of Jimmy Van Heusen pieces, "Darn That Dream" and "But Beautiful," plus other standards including "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Bye Bye Blackbird," "I'll Be Seeing You," and "When You Wish Upon a Star," the latter a duet with Freddie Cole. On top of that, there's the old Dinah Washington hit "This Bitter Earth" and the hymn "Take My Hand, Precious Lord." Scott doesn't have the range or power he did back in the Fifties, but, if anything, he's a more original performer now. He lags way behind the beat, opening up his vocals while building tension, and takes more chances in altering melodies than he did 50 years ago. Most of the selections are taken at slow tempos, which is fine, because that's where Scott excels. The charts, most by pianist Rene Rosnes, are spare, but complement Scott quite effectively. The various small bands that accompany Scott contain skilled but imitative musicians, including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, tenor saxmen Eric Alexander and Bob Kindred, and Rosnes. Though far younger than Scott, their retro styles are appropriate here, and they perform with consistent inspiration.