Innocent Of Nothing

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Album Information

Total Tracks: 10   Total Length: 52:49

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Sarah Tonen

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Marilyn Scott, Innocent Of Nothing
2006 | Label: Prana Entertainment

Of all the songs in Bob Dylan's catalogue, "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" might not seem like the most obvious choice for a jazz vocalist to tackle: The bulk of the melody is fairly static, the words are voluminous and unwieldy, and the skeletal acoustic guitar of the original wouldn't seem to translate well into jazz instrumentation. So give Marilyn Scott credit for daring: not only does she include "It's Alright, Ma" alongside more obviously jazz-ready fare like "Round Midnight" and “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most," she finesses the tune until it becomes melodically more fully rounded. The same holds true for the rest of Innocent of Nothing, which features Scott collaborating with producer George Duke and a band that includes bassist Brian Bromberg, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, percussionist Lenny Castro, keyboardists Patrice Rushen and John Beasley, saxophonists Steve Tavaglione, guitarists Ray Fuller and Mike Miller and a pair of members from fusion pioneers the Yellowjackets, Jimmy Haslip (bass) and Russel Ferrante (keyboards).

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A Little Something For Everyone

ZenGentleman

Having "discovered" Marilyn 6 years ago, I have since purchased several of her CDs. Up until now, Nightcap (a great collection of off-the-beaten path standards), was my favorite. However, I think ION has eclipsed it. Possibly Marilyn's most diverse record, it's got something for everyone - jazz artistry, blues intensity with and plenty of passionate soul. You like standards? 'Round Midnight, Spring Can Really... You like uptempo toe-tappers, that would be Round & Round and Icebox (my favorite song), you want cool covers? try her re-working of Bob Dylan's It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding). Her sultry voice is always soothing and engaging. On top of that, when you see the players on the record - George Duke (who also produced), Russell Ferrante & Jimmy Haslip (from the Yellowjackets), Patrice Rushen, John Beasley, Mike Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta, Brian Bromberg and many other wonderful musicians - you know you are in for something special. I highly recommend this album.

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They Say All Music Guide

Throughout her career, singer Marilyn Scott has straddled a line between traditional jazz vocals and the poppier side of fusion. Innocent of Nothing tilts slightly toward the latter, with catchy R&B-based tunes like “Icebox” and “Round and Round” alongside an oddly overwrought version of Bob Dylan’s “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” that brings Scott Walker’s melodramatics to mind. However, Scott’s jazz side reasserts itself on her challenging take on the Thelonious Monk standard “Round Midnight,” which Scott approaches with the rhythmic fearlessness of Jeanne Lee or indeed Monk himself. Throughout, producer and bandleader George Duke keeps the emphasis on Scott’s vocals, using the tropes of contemporary smooth jazz (lots of fretless bass and electric piano, that sort of thing) while never letting the album devolve into soulless background music prettiness, even on lightweight tunes like “A Flame.” In terms of Scott’s vocal technique, Innocent of Nothing is something of a step back from 2004′s Nightcap, a masterful collection of standards that features some of Scott’s finest singing, but as a whole, this album shows that interesting work can still be done in the oft-maligned field of jazz-pop. – Stewart Mason

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