What makes Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes by Shirley Scott notable?

Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes is notable for its successful blend of jazz with contemporary soul sounds, which helped bridge genres during a transformative era in American music. The album’s rendition of popular tracks like (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman resonated widely, contributing to Scott's lasting influence on both jazz and R&B artists that followed. Released in 1969, this album marked a significant moment for Shirley Scott as it was her first collaboration with a group of saxophonists known as the Soul Saxes. By this time, Scott had already established herself within the jazz scene but sought to explore the intersection of jazz and popular soul music, broadening her artistic reach.

How many songs are on Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes?

Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes has 7 tracks, running approximately 33 minutes.

Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes

Shirley Scott · 1969

33 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of jazz and soul, featuring rich horn arrangements and captivating vocal interpretations.

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Top tracks — play these first

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(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman — This track stands out as it transforms a classic soul anthem into a dynamic jazz piece, showcasing Scott's ability to reinterpret familiar melodies through her unique style.
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I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free — Scott's arrangement infuses an uplifting spirit into this song, blending soulful vocals with intricate saxophone lines that highlight her improvisational skills.
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Get Back — This cover of the Beatles' hit exemplifies how Scott reimagines rock songs within a jazz context, featuring lively horns and a rhythm section that energizes the original tune.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album blends jazz and soul effectively, showcasing strong arrangements and performances but lacks broader cultural reach.

What we noticed

The album features a prominent use of multiple saxophones, creating a rich tapestry of sound that dominates the arrangements.
Each track maintains a steady groove, often incorporating rhythmic elements from soul music alongside traditional jazz structures.
The instrumentation frequently shifts between solo saxophone lines and harmonized sections, allowing for dynamic interplay among the musicians.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

The instrumental breaks build tension before returning to the emotive chorus creates a powerful contrast.

This structural choice emphasizes the emotional weight of the lyrics by allowing space for reflection before reaffirming the central theme.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 It’s Your Thing 4:31
2 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 4:21
3 I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free 6:22
4 You 5:42
5 Stand by Me 4:05
6 Get Back 4:45
7 More Today Than Yesterday 3:37

What to play next

Listen next

Soul Song

1969

Go back to

Workin'

1967

Full Shirley Scott discography Artists like Shirley Scott

bebop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata