Ah, a singer that has an original personality in her delivery! I thought everyone was trying to sound like either Diana Krall or Norah Jones. Yes, Tina May here is giving a tribute to various jazz “divas”, but she sounds like herself, and she’s a catch!
She works with a riveting rhythm section of John Pearce/p, Andy Cleyndert/b, Bobby Worth/dm and Dave Cliff/g and half the time with a vintage swing era horn section that riffs and solos with the best of ‘em. She coos like Peggy Lee and growls like Pearl Bailey on “Why Don’t You Do Right” while goes mysterious like an Agatha Christie novel on “Baltimore Oriole.” An endearing take of “Forgetful” features some nice guitar lines, and she gets wonderfully jivey with Winston Clifford on “Where You At.” Hip reeds ride up her back on the thrilling white knuckler of “Can’t Get Out of This Mood” and she acts out a role with Raymond Chandler on “Surabay Johnny.” I wanna see this one tour around. Whew!
Hep Jazz Records