JILL SCOTT

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN

Blues Babe, Human Re Sources & The Orchard.

Jill Scott continues to mix genres, using her incredible creativity to combine, poetry, rap, R&B and Jazz on this newly released album titled “To Whom This May Concern.”  Jill opens with a poem that asserts her freedom, her womanhood, her higher self.  She says she’s standing on faith during this production and beyond. This is Scott’s first full-length record release in a decade.

The vocalist/poet follows her original poem with a song called “Be Great” featuring Trombone Shorty.  It continues to affirm the poet and lyricist’s strength and tenacity. Jill Scott has co-written this original song that states, “I’m gonna go ‘head and be great!  Why not?”

These song lyrics continue with the theme of uplifting and invigorating the listener with love. On “My Beautiful People” she uses background vocals to repeat the song title. Her message is clear, positive and culturally rich.  Her poem, “Offadaback” thanks a long list of ancestors, some you may recognize.

The questions in her songs are meant to tickle the brain.  When she sings, “You do the Math – You do the Math,” she is asking us for answers to life equations.  Her poetry stimulates the senses and her vocals are beautiful.

Some of the content contains curse words and racist statements that disappoint me. I’ve always been a big Jill Scott fan. So, after so much positivity, songs like “Pay U on Tuesday” burned like a red-hot pepper on my tongue. This song had me runnin’ for water to douse the flames of fiery words that burned my brain.

Then, in the next breath, she sang one of my favorites called, “Liftin’ Me Up” with a track that skips along, free as a child at play. Once again, the lyrics strongly elevate.

Jill Scott features “Too Short” on a tune called “BPOTY” that celebrates the seedy livelihoods of pimps and whores. BPOTY stands for ‘Biggest Pimp of the Year’ that Jill relates to as the pharmaceutical industry and sometimes preachers.

I’m glad that she had youtube’s available that print her poems on screen. That way, you won’t miss any messages or the duality of her meanings. Jill Scott’s lyrics, words, thoughts, opinions, challenge and spur the listener to think, think, think! This is a mixture of jazz, R&B, hip hop and soulful grooves, along with lyrics that stimulate and scratch at truth, however painful or beautiful.

JILL SCOTT BANDMATES & CONTRIBUTORS: Jill Scott, vocals; Myles Sweeney, Mr. Groove & Chuck Harmony, piano; Erskine Hawkins, piano/arrangements; Eric Wortham, keyboards; Adam Blackstone, music director/keyboards/strings/wind instrument/arrangements; Andre Harris, Vincent “VT” Tolan & Khari Mateen, arrangements/bass guitar; Paul “DW” Wright, bass guitar; Randy Bowland, guitar; Hairston Bradley, Brian Frasier Moore, Riley Geare, Terance Vaughn & Aaron Draper, drums; Monsieur Dominique Thomas, percussion; Michael Burton & Tim Green, saxophone; Ayo Brame & BK Jackson, tenor saxophone; Dan Oestreicher, baritone saxophone; Wilbert Williams, Trombone Shorty & Melvin Jones, trombone; Richard Benitez III & Melvin Jones, trumpet; Matthew Banner & Dontae Winslow, tuba; Jamar Jones, music arrangement/strings; Tyries Rolf, strings;  JID, Tierra Whack & Ab-Soul, lead vocals; Jett Roberts, Lizzy Komba, The Shindellas & Claude Kelly, background vocals; Too Short, lead rap vocals; Maha Adachi Earth, spoken word. ARRANGERS: Kev Choice, Om’Mas Keith (drum machine & drums); Erskine Hawkins, Adam Blackstone, Vincent “VT” Tolan & Khari Mateen, Jamar Jones.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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