2000 was a monumental 12 months for the Philly Soul sound. DJ Jazzy Jeff had been compiling and growing a proficient group of artists, producers and songwriters at his A Contact of Jazz Studios in Philadelphia within the years main as much as this.
The fruits of their work reached a pinnacle on July 18th, 2000 with the discharge of the debut album “Who Is Jill Scott? Phrases and Sounds Vol. 1” by Jill Scott. The collective at A Contact of Jazz had positioned information on artists corresponding to Tatyana Ali and Kenny Lattimore within the years prior, however this physique of labor was virtually solely created by them.
There isn’t any doubt that this can be a basic album that has kicked off a legendary profession from Jill Scott over the previous twenty years. The singer was no in a single day success and the tales behind the creation of the album and her journey are very fascinating.
Jill Scott was a poet and spoken phrase artist who had already made a reputation for herself on the open mic scene. This allowed her to be found by legendary Philly band The Roots and finally work her manner into A Contact of Jazz studios.
Via interviews over time with a majority of the producers concerned on this album, we’ve been capable of get some historical past of Jill’s beginnings as an artist and the way this album even got here collectively. Listed below are a few of our favourite quotes:
Working with Jill is wonderful, simply her character, she’s only a actual all the way down to earth lady and candy individual and she or he’ll say what’s on her thoughts. We had this spot and we used to play there each Tuesday night time. It was open mic so there was a complete bunch of musicians. Jill used to return and do poetry and we used to do music, however she’d simply do poetry over the music, we by no means heard her sing. Lengthy story quick, Jazzy Jeff was telling us about this lady he wished us to fulfill. He brings her to the studio. Subsequent factor , we minimize “Lengthy Stroll” and “The Method” and “Getting within the Method”. These have been her first singles, we minimize them in per week. – Vidal Davis
The one factor I like about her is, it was at all times a dialog. Each dope music got here from some form of dialog. She wasn’t simply choosing tracks. It was like we have been speaking and laughing, and you then hit one thing on the keys, and she or he’d prefer it. You then construct on it and it grows. You then go into the sales space. Then you might have the music. That complete album, that’s why it’s referred to as “Phrases & Sounds”. She would simply pull out her poetry pocket book and go in and do one thing she wrote way back. Subsequent factor she’s singing one thing dope. – Keith Pelzer
Jill Scott is a star. She is full fledged. We knew precisely for a indisputable fact that she was going to be all the pieces that she is and all the pieces that she is now. Her persona was big and watching her come into the studio and simply be humble and keen to be there in addition to coming together with her e-book of poetry. She was simply open for creativity and suggestion and concepts. – Carvin Haggins
I believe probably the greatest issues was these first eight or 9 songs that we recorded with Jill Scott. She wasn’t signed to a label. Somebody didn’t inform me to do it. Jill was dope, she got here into the studio and we made songs. What I did that was totally different than what was totally different than what most individuals used to do, I purchased a CD burner and I pressed up perhaps 150 copies of the primary 9 songs. I mainly gave it to all people who I felt beloved music. That’s what received the phrase out. It was like test this out. I had a good friend over at Sony Music, who instructed me all people in Sony was enjoying Jill’s demo as a result of they thought she was signed to Sony! – DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jill was tremendous cool, she was probably the greatest issues that occurred to A Contact of Jazz. When Jill got here in, she contributed immensely to that sound. It was a mutual labor that allowed these songs to be particular. She undoubtedly had a novel strategy as a result of she was additionally a poet and actress. Her power was not so consolidated into this R&B factor. Jill was a poet at first. – Ivan Barias
Jill finally received signed to Hidden Seashore and the remainder is historical past. Right here is our monitor by monitor breakdown of “Who Is Jill Scott? Phrases and Sounds Vol. 1”.
1) “Jilltro” (Produced by Darren Henson)
A uniquely crafted intro that features a number of meshed collectively sound bytes meant to right away reply the query requested within the album title. Jill takes a second to introduce herself as a poet and describe her inspiration.
2) “Do You Keep in mind” (Produced by Andre Harris)
The album kicks into gear with the soothing and soulful first music. Jill reveals off her stunning vocals as she displays on a earlier love.
three) “Completely” (Produced by Jeff Townes)
Jill faucets into her poetry e-book for a spoken phrase piece that successfully serves as an intro to “Gettin within the Method”. We’re already seeing a number of sides of her artistry. She’s additionally not shy about exhibiting off her sexual aspect.
four) “Gettin’ Within the Method” (Produced by Vidal Davis)
Most of us received our introduction to Jill Scott by means of her debut album’s lead single “Gettin within the Method”. It is a music that totally exudes Philly Soul and actually made us take note of Jill. The lyrics of the music present a ravishing contradiction to the soulful backdrop. The video for the music is extraordinarily charming and confirmed us we had a sensation on our palms in contrast to every other on the time.
5) “A Lengthy Stroll” (Produced by Andre Harris & Vidal Davis)
Subsequent up is the album’s second single and finds Jill telling her man what they’ll do as soon as they get previous the drama of the earlier music. One other tremendous clean minimize that helped outline the album.
6) “I Assume It’s Higher” (Produced by Andre Harris)
One of many standout qualities of this album are the attractive interludes that movement completely between songs. “I Assume It’s Higher” is one we have been actually hoping may very well be a full size music!
7) “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)” (Produced by Keith Pelzer)
This superbly seductive music is a melodic love letter to Jill’s first husband. Though the music was not chosen as a single from this album, it was later launched through her reside album “Expertise: Jill Scott 826+” and has develop into a fan favourite by means of the years.
eight) “It’s Love” (Produced by Darren Henson & Keith Pelzer)
The album takes an uptempo flip with the enjoyable and bouncy “It’s Love”. The horns and drums give the music a novel jazzy and funk really feel. The vibe of the music will be summed up as the sensation you get whenever you’re in love.
9) “The Method” (Produced by Andre Harris & Vidal Davis)
We now arrive on the album’s third single. Jill slows it down on the sultry, romantic ballad “The Method”. She continues to indicate off her distinctive writing skills and talent to show a timeless love message into one thing recent. Sonically this music must be within the dialog amongst greatest R&B sluggish jams within the 2000’s.
10) “Honey Molasses” (Produced by Carvin Haggins & Vidal Davis)
One of the simplest ways to explain this music is that it’s such a vibe. Really easy to get misplaced within the enchanting manufacturing and seductive vocals which collectively make for a gem.
11) “Love Rain” (Produced by Vidal Davis)
This was the preliminary music launched from the challenge however by no means took off as a single. One other take a look at Jill’s poetic aspect which she gracefully confirmed off all through the album. It’s enjoyable to mirror on how a lot she has developed from this level.
12) “The Roots” (Interlude) (Produced by Ahmir Khalib Thompson, Tariq Trotter & Scott Storch)
Subsequent we attain a quick interlude to remind us of Jill’s affiliation with fellow Philly natives The Roots. You might bear in mind she co-wrote their hit music “You Received Me” from a couple of years prior.
13) “Slowly Certainly” (Produced by Darren Henson & Don Thompson)
Did we point out that Jill Scott may be very soothing and melodic on this album? “Slowly, Certainly” is a pleasant instance of that.
14) “One Is the Magic #” (Produced by Vidal Davis)
Issues take a Latin twist on the subsequent music and Jill even reveals off her Spanish talking expertise. The music sounds nothing like the remainder of the album however not a lot it doesn’t match.
15) “Watching Me” (Produced by Ted Thomas, Jr., Wealthy Medina, Roy Ayers & William Allen)
One other distinctive music is up subsequent. This music samples Roy Ayers “Need Me” and lyrically resembles a poem referring to the annoyances of massive brother watching us. This commentary rings much more true 20 years later.
16) “Brotha” (Produced by Keith Pelzer)
Jill takes issues again to a extra soulful and jazzy vibe on the inspirational and uplifting “Brotha”.
17) “Present Me” (Produced by Vidal Davis)
Issues sluggish again down for an additional pretty ballad “Present Me”. The vibe of the monitor at all times took us again to a sound harking back to Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” album.
18) “Attempt” (Produced by James Poyser & Ed King)
The album wraps up with the progressive sounding “Attempt”. The self reflective and autobiographical music offers us one other take a look at Who Jill Scott is, a narrative she started telling on the intro.
*)Hidden monitor “Love Rain” (Remix that includes Mos Def)
Rapper Mos Def makes an look as the one characteristic on the album for a remix to “Love Rain”. This model of the music makes a pleasant companion to the unique.
Remaining Ideas
Taking the time to revisit Jill Scott’s debut album “Who Is Jill Scott? Phrases and Sounds Vol. 1” has allowed us to verify it has stood the take a look at of time as a basic. Not solely is it a high quality physique of labor from entrance to again, however it was distinctive on the time, and had such a strong affect on the sound of music within the years that adopted. Once we revisit the legacy of Jill Scott, this can undoubtedly be checked out as the inspiration of a legendary profession.
