Tina May, with Nicky Iles
Tina is one of Europe’s top jazz singers, with a technique second-to-none in and a great sense of swing. Nicky Iles, her pianist of choice for several years, is both a subtle and supportive accompanist and a fine improvising soloist.
Tina’s education and experience in music began while she was student of French at Cardiff in the early eighties and continued during a year of study in Paris, where she had the opportunity to work with young musicians like Patrick Villanueva and even with the great ex-pat drummer Kenny Clarke. She also worked in theatre and review (including with Rory Bremner, with who she took show called ‘You’re Eiffel but I Like You” from Paris to the Edinburgh fringe).
Returning to Britain, she worked in theatre wile developing her jazz style working mainly with Dylan Fowler, great Welsh guitarist and composer, in a band that became well known as Frevo.
Tina moved to London, still working in French-speaking theatre while gigging as m much as she could. Almost by chance she was offered a recording contract by Paul Jolly at 33 Records, She made her first album in 1991, with a band including Don Weller, Dave Green, David Newton and Clark Tracey. This won very favourable critical reception and immediately opened up a whole new range of gigs. In the 1990s, Tina worked hard at combining being a mother (her first child was born in 1989), a touring musician and a teacher. She won several awards, toured the Far East and Australia, and most of Europe.
Tina linked up with Nicky Iles while guesting at gigs in Yorkshire and the two started working together on a regular basis. Tina has produced a series of albums with Nicky, and bands featuring guests such as Alan Barnes and Scott Hamilton. She also met and played with the great pianist Ray Bryant, recording the Ray Bryant Songbook at the famous Rudy Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey.
The past few years have seen more awards and more strenuous touring. Her last album ‘I Never Told You’, a collection of some of her favourites from the Great American Songbook, has also had rave reviews in the jazz and general press.
Abbreviations: as alto sax; b acoustic bass ; bjo banjo; bsax bass sax; cl clarinet, ct cornet; d drums; eb electric bass; eg electric guitar; fl flute; flg flugel horn; g guitar; org organ; p piano : sousa sousaphone; t = trumpet; tr trombone; ts tenor sax; viol violin; voc voice.