Jill Scott moved to Atlantic Records for her fifth studio album. Woman sounds like it was written especially for this legendary label. Scott is able to capture soul development on one album. From the uptempo sound of the sixties to the subtle neo soul of today. Besides comparisons with obvious singers like Aretha Franklin and Carla Thomas, it seems as if Isaac Hayes has served as a great inspiration.
Of course Scott sounds a lot brighter than his dark brown voice. However, his influence as a composer is abundantly present. Scott sings in the same narrative way as Hayes. Consistently surprising with astonishing timing. It is a pity that she spends less time in the long drawn-out compositions for which Hayes was known. She has everything she can to get away with it particularly well. (AD)more