Reviews
 

Jazz Times Nov. 1999:

"With a repertory anchored in the bedrock of American popular song, Canadian vocalist Flora Scott swings with an insouciance reminiscent of the hip nonchalance of Mose Allison. Her bluesy inflections in evergreens like "Exactly Like You" simmer. Taking the measure of poignant fare such as Earl Hines' "Everything Depends On You," Scott proves a compelling storyteller. She's also an effective guitarist. The tight combo charts are by Anita Bonkowski." - Chuck Berg

B.C. Report - Newsmagazine June 1999

"Victoria jazz guitarist Flora Scott has been playing seriously for almost a decade, she released her first C.D., THEN AND NOW just two months ago." "..her C.D. is getting airplay, mostly on C.B.C."

TIMES COLONIST - SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2005

CD REVIEWS
Scott offers jazz vocals with class
Flora Scott Octet Collage (self-produced)
"On the opening, smooth operator original, Illusions, local jazz vocalist Flora Scott one-note sambas through a very clever, juicy arrangement backed by an augmented Hugh Fraser Quintet featuring Mike Zachenuk's horn solo. Scott has a pinched, muted-trumpet vocal sound that is nicely framed by tenor sax star Ross Taggart's muscular, concise solo on I Love Being Here With You. On other cuts, scat singing over her guitar, Scott is like another horn in the band's expanded studio line-up. She offers a collection of jazz standards from the songsmith canon, bebop master Horace Silver's Senor Blues, mope-rock auteur Nick Drake's poignant Riverman, and a roiling, instrumental reading of Caravan. It's a classy, mostly- mainstream offering."
BY JOSEPH BLAKE - Times Colonist staff

Flora Scott Octet

Collage (independent)
Okay, whats's up with local jazz artists? Lately they seem to be releasing one strong disc after another, and Flora Scott's second album Collage is no exception. As well as featuring Scott's signature voice (which is smooth like silk stockings and sultry like a sexy night during monsoon season), Collage also includes a veritable who's who of coastal Canadian jazz talent like bone master Hugh Fraser and noted Campbell Ryga and Ross Taggart. Scott's voice has matured nicely since her first release, Then and Now, and her guitar work on these 12 tracks provides a nice counterpoint to the album's sound. There's great choice of material here to appeal to jazz audiences both traditional (Duke Ellington's "Carvan", Alan Lerner's "On a Clear Day") and emerging Nick Drakes's "Riverman", and a decidedly Sex and the City take on Gershwin's "Summertime"). And while Scott's own sweet lead-off track "Illusions" got me excited at the prospect of more original material, alas, it's the only one here … but it shows great promise. Collage proves that while people keep looking to the rock scene for the next big Island act, it's far more likely to be a jazz artist who breaks out. Wow, what a great album.
-Al Brooks

Cowichan Valley Citizen

"..the Valley's inaugural Jazz and Blues Festival"- "The audience was treated to a full day and evening of top-notch jazz and blues at the Cowichan Golf and Country Club." "..performing were guitarist-vocalist-songwriter Flora Scott and her quartet." "Scott's training from the likes of Jay Clayton, coupled with on-stage experience with such names as Slide Hampton and Hugh Fraser, was evident in a cool set of unique melodies and rhythms that touched upon different jazz eras."

 

 

Jazzfest International 1999

" Flora Scott Trio"
"With a new C.D. out featuring Hugh Fraser,and performance credits with Brian Nova, Slide Hampton, Jay Clayton, and the Don Leppard Big Band, this gifted artist has chops to spare and one of the most interesting playlists going. Appearing with bassist Anita Bonkowski and Don Leppard on drums."

 
 
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