Tina May, The Pheasantry

One of the UK’s best loved jazz vocalists, Tina May returns to present her new album, My Kinda Love. The counterpart to last year’s Divas, which celebrated great female singers, including Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf, this latest release focuses on less familiar repertoire. Tunes such as Lazy Afternoon, Haunted Heart and An Occasional Man all get a new lease of life thanks to the singer’s thoughtful interpretations and a series of masterful arrangements by Frank Griffith, John Jensson and Duncan Lamont. The result is a polished set which shows off May’s richly textured vocals in a variety of different settings, from the piano duet to full rhythm section and string quartet.

Griffith, one of May’s long-time associates, worked with major names in his native USA, including bassist Ron Carter and vibes player and bandleader Lionel Hampton, before moving to the UK; while revered Scottish saxophonist and composer Lamont can boast of collaborations with everyone from vocalists Cleo Laine and Blossom Dearie to the late Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. Two of the scotsman’s original compositions, Where Were You In April and Manhattan in the Rain, also feature on the album and are among the highlights, the former opening with melancholy strings which melt into the rhythm section as May takes up the lament.

In addition to a string quartet, the singer will be joined many of the featured soloists and performers from the studio recording, including pianist John Pearce, drummer Winston Clifford, Frank Griffith on saxophones and clarinet and trumpeter Janusz Carmello. There may not be anything cutting edge about May’s latest release, but when it comes to classic jazz stylings she’s up there with the best and this London premier is certain to be a treat.