Customer Reviews

Jill Scott Collaborations

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off, this collection is only meant to be an appetizer for the fans until the new studio album, The Real Thing, which will be released this summer. (Although I also imagine that it was released to get Jill new fans, including the people going out to buy Norah Jones' new one, to promote other ventures from her Hidden Beach label and to prove that Scott is a versatile artist).

Overall, I'm a little disappointed. The disc has some very nice collaborations, but most of the songs are very laid-back. I was quite bored listening to most of this. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood.

The tracks with Common are great and so is "Daydreamin'." I enjoyed the "Love Rain" remixes, even tohugh one of them was a hidden track on her debut. The real highlight here is "Kingdom Come." (It was on the soundtrack for the film of the same name.) Jill Scott goes gospel with amazing results. And she even skats in the middle! This track alone is worth the purchase.

For added value, the album comes with a bonus sampler of upcoming Hidden Beach artists Keite, Onitsha, Sunny Hawkins, Jeff Bradshaw, Peter Black and Leigh Jones. (I enjoyed it, but I dare say... some of these people just are not distinguished artists. They don't stand out like Ms. Scott). The sample also includes two snippets of Jill's amazing song from the new album, "In Stereo." Jill has re-invented herself once again. There is also a full length recording of Scott performing "The Fact Is (I Need You)" live. It is amazing and takes the song to another level.

I am a Jill Scott fan, so please allow me to speak my mind without the unhelpful votes unless if you really feel that way. I recommend this set for Jill fans only, not for the casual music listener. Although some of it is not that great, it is definitely worth the purchase for ther highlight tracks.

This collection of duets, triunes and other 'collaborations' is reportedly a prelude, a warm-up if you will, to Jill Scott's album of new material scheduled for release in the summer. I can't wait!

Hardcore Jill fans will probably have most if not all of the songs on here but it's nice to have them all in one place. I love everything the woman does but I can't say I'm a hardcore fan. I was thinking of getting the new George Benson & Al Jarreau CD for instance, not just because I'd heard good things about it (or because of the Grammy win) but also because I knew Jill was featured on it. As it happens, I think their version of "God Bless The Child" is very nice.

But there are a couple of tunes on here I wouldn't ever have gone looking for, like "Said Enough" featuring the Isley Brothers or "Let Me" featuring Sergio Mendes & Will.I.Am and I can hardly hear her at all on "Funky For You", which features Common & Bilal. I was pleasantly surprised by "The Rain" though, the collaboration with Will Smith, and I found myself humming the refrain all day after listening to it just once.

I agree with an earlier reviewer and must say I can't believe they didn't put the live version of "You Got Me" with The Roots on here. It's bad enough that Jill wasn't allowed to sing on the original studio version back in the day, but to not include it here is totally baffling. It's one of Jill's best songs (she wrote the hook, of course) and it is the song that kick started her career after all. I don't get it.

Anyway, the album still showcases Jill's wonderful range, her singing, her beautiful spoken voice and her poetry (I still think poets make the best lyricists: "She's going down to Zanzibar," she tells us on "Slide" featuring Jeff Bradshaw, "Where the drinks are strong and the men are smooth." That one line - my favourite line on the whole CD - paints an attractive picture in my mind all on its own).

I also particularly like her version of "Good Morning Heartache" with Chris Botti but I also strongly recommend the Gladys Knight version on the sountrack of the defunct TV series "New York Undercover". (Ms Scott does it very well but Ms Knight does it much better).

All in all, the album is a great showcase and a great introduction to Jill Scott's work for anyone who hasn't checked her out yet. It only tells half the story though and I'm sure there'll surely be a greatest hits or similar collection coming along soon. In the meantime, roll on summer 2007!

The bonus CD sampler has one new song from Ms Scott, "In Stereo", presumably from her upcoming album. I didn't think much of it but maybe I need to hear more. The CD also has a couple of songs from various Hidden Beach artistes and while they're all undoubtedly talented folk, only a few caught my ear: "God Is On Your Side" by Onitsha, "Love Me Too" & "Crazy" by Sunny Hawkins, "Happy Feelings" & "Wait Around Love" by Jeff Bradshaw and all three songs by Leigh Jones: "Cold In LA", "Who, What Why?" And "Suddenly".

But none quite caught my ear enough to make me want to rush out and go buy. In fact the only song on the bonus CD that I really dug was the live version of Jill Scott's "The Fact Is (I Need You)", recorded in Paris.

Now that made me jump up and down, beaming from ear to ear. Which for me, is what Jill Scott is all about!

Not only is Jill a phenomenal solo artist, she also does a great job of collabortating with some of the most talented artists out today. If its Jazz im in the mood for, I can turn on "Good Morning Heartache" with Chris Botti, or if its a little hip hop, I can put on "Daydreamin" with Lupe Fiasco or "The Rain" with Will Smith. Any way you slice it, this album is the perfect record to round out my in-car cd selection. Can't wait for her next album!!!

Jilly from Philly has come thru once again. The people at Hidden Beach have put together an Impressive list of Jill's duets with other artists. My favs on here include "Love Rain" with Mos Def, "Daydreamin" with Lupe Fiasco, "8 Minutes to Sunrise" with Common and "The Rain" with Will Smith. Also included is a new sampler that has some of the new Hidden Beach artists. They have some exciting new music it appears on the way. Do yourself a favor and check this out....I cant wait for Jill's new studio record coming later this year.....

Jill Scott has not let me down yet. She takes her time and makes sure everything she puts out is coming from her soul. You just gotta love her range of vocals, her range of style and the funk she brings.

We never need to ask the question, Who Is Jill Scott? Again, because we all now know who Jill Scott is. Or at least we think so.
"Collaborations" is Jill Scott's latest album, released through the brilliant Hidden Beach Recordings, with a ton of very creative and legendary artists : George Benson, Bilal, Chris Botti, Jeff Bradshaw, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Kirk Franklin, The Isley Brothers, Al Jarreau, Sergio Mendes, Mos Def, Eric Roberson, Darius Rucker, Will Smith and Will.i.am.
Jill Scott shows her many musical sides from the jazz Jill, to the 'spoken word' Jill, to the hip-hop Jill.
You've got everything you need to hear. And its all on two discs.
It's a great come back from her not as successful album Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2
The most enjoyable collaboration on this album, is "One Time" featuring Eric Roberson. They should make an album together.
The only criticism I have of this album is that it contains more music from the artists that Scott collaborates with than Jill Scott herself.
In fact, in several of the songs she only sings the chorus.
This will prove slightly disappointing for those who would have liked to hear more of Miss Scott's voice. However, I can comprehend why she chose to do this since the album is meant only to be a taster of the music she will be releasing later on this year.
Always a cut above your average neo-soulster, Jill Scott's singing somehow makes you want to be a better person and live life to the full.
Plus, Jill has tons of skills.
Featuring a cornucopia of sounds and genres, this allum demonstrates Miss Scott's range as well as her versatility. I cannot wait to hear what she will bring forward later this year. If this is just a taster of her new record, then I anticipate her new album will be a five stars one.

This compilation from Jill Scott is great. She uses her voice like an insturment. To hear her "instrument" blending with some of the best artists in the business is a treat. On the other hand, the duet with Kirk Franklin didn't work for me. This will be a great addition to you Jill Scott collection.

Jill got a Grammy last night for her collaboration with Al Jarreau & George Benson on God Bless the Child. Great CD!

This CD is about direction. Jill takes her listeners into several different directions for the eclectic ear palate. This CD has been a joy an one of her best works in my opinion.

It is difficult to find a new artist who is capable of maintaining originality and truth to self; Jill Scott does both ... seamlessly giving fans and new recruits reason to salute her essence. Carry on girl! Carrying on CD. A pleasure in all respects.

The Hummingbird Haven, Exuma, Bahamas