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Made from scratch
Partnered with Will Smith, he helped make hip-hop happen. So why’d it take so long for Jazzy Jeff to make an album all his own?
-A.D. Amorosi

August 22-28, 2002

cover story

A Touch of Jill

Though A Touch Of Jazz Studios has produced and/or written for a laundry list of African-American music’s finest talents -- Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Bilal, Will Smith, Isaac Hayes, Musiq (Soulchild) -- it is the success of North Philly’s Jill Scott that is most symbiotic with the studio and its namesake. She spoke to me in between travel dates and ATOJ studio sessions for her third Hidden Beach CD.

-- A.D. Amorosi

City Paper: Tell me how you and Jeff met.

Jill Scott: I met Jeff on a street corner in Old City, Philadelphia. Near Footworks. He was talking to Big Rich Medina [the shop's owner] and I was on my way to work. I had been calling him for about six months with no return call, so I had just about given up on him. The next day he called and asked if I could come to the studio. I had always liked Jeff as a DJ. I used to hear him on the radio with Lady B and thought he was the ultimate.

cp: What did it mean to make it big with Jeff as your producer?

JS: It meant a great deal to me that Jazzy Jeff was a part of my first works. He is, first, a Philly icon as well as a hip-hop icon; you know, what with winning the first hip-hop Grammy and all that. He's been there. And as far as making it big ... I don't know. I don't think I have yet. But I am a working artist and I'm thrilled about that.

cp: What is the Touch of Jazz/Jazzy Jeff production signature?

JS: I think the biggest and the best part of a Jazzy Jeff production is the teamwork he creates around him. Whether it's my first record or this one, he always brings the best and most gifted artists and producers to one location and leaves you be -- leaves you to be an artist. Then Jeff comes in and puts it all together sonically. It was magic.

cp: What did Jeff bring to your first CD that you still utilize now?

JS: The ability to choose the right mix. Instruments should be heard, not muffled and mottled. Jeff introduced me to ways and people that make clarity happen.

cp: What was your reaction to hearing that Jeff was finally doing a solo CD?

JS: I thought it was about time he put together some compilation of his different tastes in music. If you ever go to his studio, you wouldn't believe his collection of records. The man has been deeply involved with music for almost 20 years. I smiled as soon as I heard it. The Magnificent is fun like hip-hop has sometimes forgotten to be.

cp: How does he take a song you've written from step one to where it may be now?

JS: For the record, I take my music where it should be. I listen to Jeff, but I may not take or ask for his advice. We are peers. It's almost strange for me to say that, because I've listened to his music most of my life. But it's true. Jazzy Jeff has been respectful of my craft and of my space. And as of this moment, he has not yet heard any of my new music. No one has. It's still cooking. When it's off the stove, of course I'll share it with Jeff, but I don't look to him or anyone to dictate how my heart's music will taste. He respects that and I respect him for it.

cp: What's Jeff's most entrancing aspect?

JS: What I like most about Jeff is that he's just a man. He's not infallible. He tells you up front that he's made mistakes. He doesn't act like he's perfect and I wouldn't let him if he did. We are friends. That's a good thing to have in this business. But what he says is not gold. For that matter, neither is what I say. But we love music. That's all. That's all that matters.