In Brief

*** Jill Scott, “Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1,” Hidden Beach/Epic. With an earthy vibe and a fresh presentation of modern soul music, this Roots collaborator subtly sizzles on her debut album. Scott’s gentle voice fluctuates between sensuous and sad as she details the satisfaction of love fulfilled and the messy heartbreak of failed relationships. The spare, laid-back instrumentation accompanying Scott draws attention to her captivating voice, which soothes as easily as it reveals pain and anguish.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.