For musical taste, delicacy of interpretation and presentational flair Tina May has always been a hard act to follow. She is also completely at home in jazz, which isn't as common among high-profile singers as you might think. The way she negotiates Clifford Brown's "Daahoud" (here retitled "Beloved") demonstrates that. Her choice of songs is as hip as anyone could wish, including pieces by Kenny Wheeler, Oliver Nelson and Horace Silver. With the immaculate piano of Nikki Iles and occasional touches of tenor saxophone from Karen Sharp, this is a delight.
DAVE GELLY. THE OBSERVER. NOVEMBER 2009
I Never Told You
Tina May - vocals
Nikki Iles - piano
Phil Donkin - bass
Stephen Keogh - drums
with guest Karen Sharp - saxophone
recorded at Red Gables. 25th March 2009
1. Lucky To Be Me
2. In Your Own Sweet Way
3. Si TU Partais/If You Go
4. Beloved
5. When You Wish Upon A Star
6. Body and Soul
7. Peace
8. Speak Low
9. Sweet Dulcinea
10.Stolen Moments
11. I Never Told You
2. In Your Own Sweet Way
3. Si TU Partais/If You Go
4. Beloved
5. When You Wish Upon A Star
6. Body and Soul
7. Peace
8. Speak Low
9. Sweet Dulcinea
10.Stolen Moments
11. I Never Told You
preview these tracks (real player required)
Lucky To Be Me Si TU Partais/If You Go
Body and Soul I Never Told You
Lucky To Be Me Si TU Partais/If You Go
Body and Soul I Never Told You
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Tina May has long been one of the top jazz singers in Great Britain. She has the ability to take a well known song, make a few subtle changes, and have it sound like a new composition. As with Rose Colella and Trisha O'Brien, she has very good taste in songs. On I Never Told You she performs such numbers as Dave Brubeck's “In Your Own Sweet Way” (which is not sung very often), Horace Silver's “Peace,” “Lucky To Be Me” and the Johnny Mandel title cut with confidence and ease. She is a superior scat-singer, but even when she sings a song fairly straight, her phrasing and enthusiasm make the number into a special event. Joined by pianist Nikki Iles, bassist Phil Donkin, drummer Stephen Keogh and tenor-saxophonist Karen Sharp, Tina May shows that she is a singer who should be much better known in the United States. I Never Told You, gives listeners a strong sampling of her musical talents.
LA JAZZ SCENE. APRIL 2010