R&B powerhouse and Philadelphia native Jill Scott has officially returned to music and she’s bringing a little New Orleans brass with her.
Scott’s new single, “Be Great,” features hometown hero Trombone Shorty, with a lyric video which dropped Feb. 13 alongside the release of her sixth studio album, To Whom This May Concern. The album marks Scott’s first full-length release in over a decade and arrives via The Orchard in partnership with Human Re-Sources.
Shorty confirmed the collaboration on Facebook, sharing news of the project as Scott unveiled the album’s release. With a trio of heart emojis, the artist Troy Andrews posted: “@missjillscott , it’s always been my dream to jam with you. Grateful that this is out in the world now. Y’all go give it a listen and run it up!”
The record boasts a wide-ranging roster of collaborators and producers. The album features collaborations with Ab-Soul, J.I.D., Tierra Whack and Too Short, as well as production from DJ Premier, Adam Blackstone, Om’Mas Keith, Camper, Andre Harris, Seige Montracity, Eric Wortham, DW Wright and VT Tolan. But for New Orleans listeners, the Scott–Shorty pairing is the headline. Known for fusing funk, jazz, soul and brass-band traditions into a contemporary sound, Trombone Shorty’s presence signals a rich, live-instrument feel at the heart of the track.
In a recent interview on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Scott described the new album as deeply lived-in. “It’s a lot of living in this album,” she said. “It’s a lot of revelation. Musically, it’s a full spectrum… The musicianship on this project and the people that gravitated towards it, I couldn’t be happier.”
Scott’s last studio album, Woman, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2015. In the years since, she’s balanced music with an expanding acting career, including roles on Black Lightning, First Wives Club and a recent guest appearance on the Philadelphia-centric Abbott Elementary. Now, with To Whom This May Concern, she returns to the studio spotlight with a Crescent City collaborator in tow.
“Be Great” is available now. Stream the lyric video below. For more information on Jill Scott, visit her website.




