Collaborations (CD - 2007)

Though a critic's darling and a favorite of those in the musical know, Jill Scott never enjoyed the commercial success she deserved during her first several years in the game. In 2007, that looked to be changing, with the release of her third full-length and a stellar set of collaborations.

Scott's talents are enough to ensure her status several times over, but those needing extra convincing need only glance at the heavyweight guest list. The Isley Brothers, Common, Al Jarreau, Mos Def, Chris Botti, George Benson, Sergio Mendes, and Will. I. Am. are only some of Scott's partners on this outing. The leaps from hip-hop to neo-soul to jazz to pop might threaten stylistic whiplash, but it is a testament to Scott's skill as an artist that the album plays like a singular, very enjoyable entity.

The packaging of Collaborations leaves the false impression that the disc could be a new Jill Scott album. For instance, "Daydreamin'" is listed on the back as "featuring Lupe Fiasco" when it should really be credited to Fiasco featuring Scott -- it originated on Fiasco's Food and Liquor album. So, Collaborations actually rounds up many of the guest appearances Scott has made on other artists' songs throughout the past several years, and it's more like a stopgap release -- like the live album that followed her debut -- between her second and third studio albums. This could be irritating for the fans who tracked down each of the 14 sources from which the disc pulls, but it's certainly more helpful than not, and the material isn't so diverse that the whole thing can't be considered an alternate Scott album with almost as much value as Who Is Jill Scott? or Beautifully Human. There's a reason why these artists (or, in some cases, the artists' handlers) sought Scott out. Her versatile voice always carries a confident serenity, and she never shows up just to collect a check. One very unfortunate omission: 4hero's "Another Day." [A sampler from the Hidden Beach label is thrown in for extra value.] ~ Andy Kellman minimize