Beautifully Human -Words Andsounds Vol.2

Personnel include: Jill Scott (vocals); Ivan Barias, Andre Harris, Omari Shabazz, Anthony Bell (various instruments); Jimmy White, Raphael Saadiq, Frank Romano (guitar); Nicholas Payton (trumpet); James Poyser (piano, programming); Pete Kuzma (piano); Kelvin Wooten (keyboards, bass instrument, programming); Johnnie Smith (keyboards); Pino Palladino, Harold Robinson, Adam Blackstone (bass instrument); George McCurdy (drums, congas); Darrell Robinson (drums).
Producers: James Poyser; Omari Shabazz; Anthony Bell; Pete Kuzma.
Recording information: Blakeslee Recording Company, No. Hollywood, CA; The Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Home Cookin', Philadelphia, PA; Axis Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In Philadelphia singer/songwriter Jill Scott, the R&B world may have the ultimate independent woman. Scott bares her soul elegantly and passionately, her heightened sense of self-possession allowing her to skirt the pitfalls of pretension. She follows up her groundbreaking 2000 debut (and a mostly live album) with an equally robust 2004 offering, BEAUTIFULLY HUMAN.
Although Scott started out in public performance as a poet, her true skill lies somewhere between poetry and prose. She's a gifted storyteller who knows the value of every word and syllable, and she unfolds her tales effortlessly, spellbindingly, whether the topic is a family picnic, a lost love, or a night of passion. Scott is aware of her every vulnerability, unafraid to admit her flaws through her expertly crafted yet wholly organic songs. Her singing is tough and sweet, like a latter-day Billie Holiday, over lush music as unique as her lyrics, drawing on everything from torch jazz to 1970s Philly soul. On BEAUTIFULLY HUMAN, Scott builds on the promise of her first release with a mature, knowing record--an essential neo-soul album.