After 30 years of musical performance, Marilyn Scott followed through with an all-time dream: to record an acoustic jazz album like the old days in New York City. After albums like Avenues of Love and Walking with Strangers, Marilyn’s newest release, Everytime We Say Goodbye, is a refreshing change of pace. I’m all for experimentation. You never learn about yourself until you see what you’re made of.
Her sound isn’t the typical jazz lounge sound: dusky, sultry, or raspy qualities. Each note is crystal clear, perhaps too uncluttered at times. I expect a certain level of longing, melancholy, and cigarette smoke from this kind of music. The instruments deliver the familiar feels of jazz club melodies, but I wonder if Marilyn is too straightforward a person for this style of music.
For example, Marilyn covers Cry Me a River. I love this song. I have a Harry Connick Jr. version, and I have to say, Marilyn doesn’t do it for me. She cuts off abruptly when she should let a note slide on until it fades away into nothing. “Choppy” is probably one of the best words I can use to describe my listening experience.
Go to her website and check out the songs for yourself: www.marilynscott.com. Tell me what you think. Am I wrong? I never really thought of myself as having a genre specific voice, but I think what gets me about this latest album is that the vocal styles don’t fit the music. They’re just different genres.
By the way, in addition to releasing a new album, Marilyn also recently release a new line of organic baby clothing. Check out the full line at www.startinggreen.com.
I thoroughly agree with your assessment. A cursory listen reveals her vocal talents unable to match the soul of the music. Not to say that she isn’t a great singer, but she’s too rigid, crisp, and dry for a genre of music that’s roots are fluid and dynamic.
JD