Jimmy Scott (Big Band Vocalist)

Known as "Little Jimmy Scott," there's nothing small about this deep-voiced swinger. Throughout the 40s and 50s, Scott fronted Lionel Hampton's Big Band, known for its rocking, driving rhythm section and lush horn lines. Quincy Jones, who traveled with the band, explained that "(Hampton) was the Rolling Stones of his day. He wasn't happy until everyone was up and jumping." Then right in the middle, Scott would do a drop dead gorgeous ballad and stop the show. We called him Crying Jimmy Scott."

Scott's career has seen its share of ups and downs, having been dropped by Hampton's band and sued by his record company. But his current induction into the NEA Jazz Masters proves that it's the ups that count.

Listen to Samples: http://www.jimmyscottofficialwebsite.org/discography.htm

NEA Jazz Masters 2007

This year's class of Jazz Masters covers the global spectrum of the jazz community. The IAJE Conference invites the NEA Jazz Masters to attend the conference and connect with the educators and students they have so greatly influenced. Here's a brief look as this year's Jazz Masters:

2007 Fellowships Recipients

• Toshiko Akiyoshi - Bandleader
• Curtis Fuller - Solo Instrumentalist (Trombone)
• Ramsey Lewis - Pianist
• Dan Morgenstern - A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy
• Jimmy Scott - Vocalist
• Frank Wess - Solo Instrumentalist (Flute)
• Phil Woods - Composer-Arranger

Photo credits: Ray Barretto - photo by Jean-Jacques Pussiau; Tony Bennett - photo courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Bob Brookmeyer- photo by Wolfgang Gonaus; Chick Corea - photo by Pino Ninfa; Buddy DeFranco - photo by Denny Lester; Freddie Hubbard - photo by Jimmy Katz; John Levy - photo by Leroy Hamilton.