When Jimmy Scott died in 2014, dozens of musicians, hundreds
of journalists and thousands of fans mourned the passing of a jazz legend. Not
only had a link back to the era of Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Lionel
Hampton been lost, but so had the chance to bring the fame and respect denied
to him throughout his long and rich life.
Now, as if sent from some righteous deity, comes “I Go Back
Home”, an album full of life recorded by Jimmy Scott years before his death.
Created by German producer Ralf Kemper, Jimmy Scott and with mixes produced by
Phil Ramone, no expense was spared in giving Scott the lushest musical
backdrops possible, creating an album that, like Scott’s inimitable vocal
style, comes late but, but right on time.
“I Go Back Home” uses the finest arrangers writing for the
most experienced players, mixed by the most intuitive engineers in the best
studios available. Scott revisited his favorite songs, into which he invested
his lived experience, letting the listener feel the story known by far too few.
Hounding Jimmy Scott through the most of his recording
career was an oppressive recording contract that prevented him from releasing
albums. It wasn’t until 1992 that Jimmy, aged 63, recorded the first album over
which he had creative control: “All The Way.” Nominated for a Grammy and
finally bringing him to the attention of an audience that wasn’t entirely
comprised of jazz fans and a few lucky passers-by, Scott began touring and
regularly releasing albums. It’s not until “I Go Back Home” that Scott was
given the budget that allowed him unfettered control over song selection,
personnel and orchestration.
As the album progresses, each song sees another musician or
singer join Scott for a fresh interpretation of a beloved song, long-time
collaborators such as Kenny Barron and Joe Pesci, or new ones, such as actress
and singer Reneè Olstead, trumpeter Till Brönner and harmonica player Gregoire
Maret. All give Scott the room he needs to slide between phrases, telling his
story and living out the world of each song.
As Jimmy explained: “The lyric is so important to me. I feel
if you’re singing a song or telling the story in a song it should mean
something. That’s why I protect what I have in it, because that’s where I
believe it should go. It should mean something. It should make sense.”
Dave Nathan wrote on AllMusic that Scott’s phrasing moves
“beyond mere poignancy and close to reverence.” This is truer than ever on “I
Go Back Home.” Scott shifts from speak-singing in the album-opener “Sometimes I
Feel Like a Motherless Child” to a lively bossa nova take on “I Remember You”
to full-throated commitment on “If I Ever Lost You.”
Expertly interplaying with top tier collaborators “I Go Back
Home” is ultimately a record of collaboration and companionship, and the sound
of a singer going out on top. Scott commemorates his highest points, and spars
with fresh new talent in a way that suggests that he would have had great
albums in him yet. And while we can mourn the decades he didn’t record, the
tragedies and injustices that never defeated him, “I Go Back Home” succeeds in
capturing the essence of a life that was ultimately triumphant.
Tracklist:
1. Motherless Child (with Joey De Francesco)
2. The Nearness of You with Joe Pesci)
3. Love Letters
4. Easy Living (with Oscar Castro Neves)
5. Someone To Watch Over Me (with Renee Ostead(
6. How Deep Is The Ocean (with Kenny Barron)
7. If I Ever Lost You (with Till Bronner)
8. For Once In My Life (with Dee Dee Bridgewater)
9. I Remember You (with Monica Mancicni & Arturo Sandoval)
10. Everybody Is Somebody’s Fool (with James Moody)
11. Folks Who Live On The Hill (with Joe Pesci)
12. Poor Butterfly (with Gregoire Maret)
The creation of “I Go Back Home” was the subject of an
acclaimed documentary of the same name. It depicts producer Ralf Kemper’s drive
to work with Jimmy and provide him with the best album he can. The film
captures the challenges and sacrifices that lead up to the recording sessions,
a document that makes “I Go Back Home” an even richer record.
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