Now, a Jazz Moment...

MUSIC: "Solitude" CD: Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Decca GRD-669 (cut 15)

Like many of his generation, NEA Jazz Master Jimmy scott first drew his inspiration from...

Jimmy Scott: ... listening to the radio.   Tommy Dorsey was big then; Bing Crosby was big.   It was the old timers that I learned from. (:12)

MUSIC:   up for punctuation

When "Little Jimmy" was a child, he was particularly taken with the accomplished singer, Paul Robeson.

MUSIC: "Go Down Moses" (Paul Robeson singing) CD: Ballad for Americans, Vanguard VCD 117/18 (cut 3)

Jimmy Scott:   He had the power.   He was one of those that could project a song in the proper way.   And you understood it. (:10)

MUSIC: up for punctuation

Jimmy Scott:   I said, "Ma," she said "What boy?"   I said "Those people are gonna die if they don't let his people go."   <laughs> You know, and she says "Shut up boy."   (laughs)  

This Jazz Moment with vocalist Jimmy Scott was created by the National Endowment for the Arts.