Milestone Profiles

[GA Russell]

Jimmy Scott - Milestone Profiles

Steve Allen defined a jazz singer to be one who either sings jazz or sings in front of a jazz band. Jimmy Scott is in the latter category.

This CD has 11 songs, all standards, totalling 57:39.

The liner notes list 4 Milestone CDs currently available. The 11 songs are from the 4 CDs. The time frame is 2000-2001.

The sidemen are some famous names (including Hank Crawford, Cyrus Chestnut, George Mraz, Grady Tate, Eric Alexander, Joe Beck, Renee Rosnes, Lewis Nash, Wynton Marsalis, Larry Willis and David "Fathead" Newman), but nobody does anything particularly interesting here.

I don't find any of the songs to be objectionable, but I don't find anything here to get excited about either.

If you are curious about Jimmy Scott, this might be the way to go. Its price is low and you get the free bonus disc. If you're not curious about Scott, this one isn't essential.

[JSngry]

Jimmy Scott - Milestone Profiles

If you are curious about Jimmy Scott, this might be the way to go.

No.

The way to go would be the Falling In Love With Love, The Source and/or Lost Found, & All The Way. Those albums are iconic statements.

Scott's Milestone sides are all good, but none capture him at either his vocal or interpretive peak the way those do.

[Cali]

I just wish I could buy a U.S. release of BLACK NARCISSUS on cd.

I don't need the Henderson box because I have most of his material. I just need to fill a few holes.

[GA Russell]

Milestone Profiles Bonus Disc

Each of the Profiles discs comes with the same Bonus Disc. The eight artists are listed above in post #18. As you can see, each of the five artists profiled is included in the Bonus Disc along with three other artists. None of the songs on the Bonus Disc are also included in the Profiles discs.

The Bonus Disc consists of 8 songs, totalling 44:58.

Each of the bonus discs that came with the Prestige Profiles series had a theme. For example, the bonus disc that came with the Red Garland profile featured pianists.

But this Bonus Disc has no theme. This is the sort of thing you used to see at Borders a few years ago for $1.99. Its primary purpose is to introduce the novice to the wide variety of acts featured on the label. The selections are pretty disparate. There aren't going to be many people in America who like all of them. For example, there is McCoy Tyner banging away, Flora Purim singing Dindi, and Hank Crawford with Jimmy McGriff and their soul jazz.

I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and the price is right - it's free! But for seasoned jazz fans like board members here, the Bonus Disc is not a reason to buy the Profile. I can imagine myself putting it on from time to time. If I ever burn a copy of a Profile for the car, I will add the extra selection contained on the Bonus Disc.

[GA Russell]

Here's how I rank them:

1) Sonny Rollins - Definite recommend if you don't have Silver City and aren't going to get it.

2) Joe Henderson - Definite recommend, even if I don't like the last track.

3) McCoy Tyner - Lots of excellent music, but not a cohesive album.

4) Jimmy Smith - He's having a good time, but the music's not memorable.

5) Jimmy Scott - It's good, but it doesn't excite me.

[GA Russell]

I came to realize on Friday that I don't like the first track of the Jimmy Scott. That typically colors my evaluation of an entire album.

I played the CD a lot over the weekend, skipping the first track, and enjoyed it much more.

[Guest akanalog]

I just wish I could buy a U.S. release of BLACK NARCISSUS on cd.

I don't need the Henderson box because I have most of his material. I just need to fill a few holes.

cali, i too think it is a shame that this disc is not available solo.

i like having individual albums so i sold my henderson box set and probably the main regret is not having this album on CD ( i have it on LP, of course) and second would be that the best song from the "canyon lady" session was that unreleased track only on the box set.

also i do not understand why sonny rollins "reel life" isn't on CD. why was this album singled out for limbo?

[CJ Shearn]

I thought "Reel Life" was on CD? As are virtually all of Sonny's Milestone dates, though that probably will change with Concord in charge.

[GA Russell]

I've been listening to the Sonny Rollins the most by far. It's my favorite.

Speaking of the Milestone Profiles series, Doug Ramsey posted on his Rifftides blog August 7 that he will write the liner notes of the Thelonious Monk disc of an upcoming Riverside Profiles series. I'm looking forward to those discs.