Tina May
Tina May – vocals
Stan Sulzmann – saxophones / flute
Nikki Iles – piano
Reviews of Tina May’s album ‘Tina May, a Wing and a Prayer’
John Fordham. The Guardian
While a ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ is a contemplative album, it’s full of subtle activity. ‘You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To’, a duet with Stan Sulzmann, is a standout track, with May’s sliding pitching and airy sound dancing around his Cool School-inflected phrasing. Nikki Iles piano is full of rich implications, subtle turns and mellow harmonies. Iles slyly boogies alongside May on 'Who Can I Turn To?' while, on 'Black Narcissus' the pair are tied so close together that they sound like one instrument. For fans of the orthodox romantic ballad, meticulously but freshly performed, it’s a state-of-the-art exercise.
***
Dave Gelly. The Observer
Tina May and Nikki Iles have a rapport that takes a partnership between singer to a stage far beyond mere voice plus accompaniment. A distinctive atmosphere surrounds everything they do together, a kind of wistfulness, even at the liveliest moments. They are joined here by saxophonist/flautist Stan Sulzmann, whose gentle but inquisitive playing provides the perfect complement. The absence of a conventional rhythm section throws the exquisite balance and needle-sharp timing of all three into focus. The whole thing is a treat, but the title song, by Tina May and Kenny Wheeler, is quite outstanding.
***
Kenny Mathieson. Scotsman
There is a lot of very routine jazz singing out there these days, but this definitely does not fall into that category. Lesser artists may have grabbed the headlines, but Tina May remains the most expressive and technically gifted jazz singer on the UK scene. This beautifully performed outing with pianist Nikki Iles and saxophonist Stan Sulzmann features a mix of standards with a couple of more modern jazz compositions by Kenny Baron and Kenny Wheeler.
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