Tony Scott's 1967 self-titled album for Verve is a good example of what makes him such an interesting but frustrating artist. After branching out from mainstream jazz in the 1950s, clarinetist
Scott began exploring ethnic and folk music. Here listeners find him switching between straight-ahead standards and avant-garde, Eastern-influenced melodies. The result is utterly schizophrenic and ultimately makes for a frustrating listen. That said,
Scott is a phenomenal musician and -- when he sticks to the experimental stuff -- is quite compelling. ~ Matt Collar