Tina May: 30/3/1961 – 26/3/2022

Stylish, invariably upbeat, and often startlingly adventurous in her vocal approach, Tina May, who has died aged 60, her life cut tragically short by cancer, once explained her notion of singing jazz to writer Kenny Mathieson thus: “I see myself as a musician who uses the voice as an improvisational instrument, which for me is what makes it jazz in the first place.” And my, how effectively she delivered on that intention, both in person and on record.

Whether fronting a small group or combining with other singers or indeed, appearing with a big band, Tina brought musicality and creative zest to everything she did. To see her on a bandstand was to know that something rather wonderful was about to happen. And so it did. Irresistible, often profound but never over-wrought: her positivity shone through every time she sang. All this was evident too on her many albums with her own bands or in conjunction with such varied artists as Scott Hamilton, Enrico Pieranunzi, Ray Bryant, Humphrey Lyttelton, Frank Griffith, Tony Coe, and most rewardingly, pianist Nikki Iles.

Tina May was born in Gloucester and began vocal studies in her teens singing soprano, giving recitals of both baroque and art music, only turning to jazz while at the University of Wales in Cardiff, which she combined with acting roles. Having studied in Paris and sat in at the city’s jazz clubs, she retained active connections with France, visiting often, (she recorded Jazz Piquant in 1998 in fluent French and issued a live recording made at the Club Lionel Hampton In Paris in 1999). A founder member of the Back Door Theatre Company, Tina appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe as both singer and actress, later performing at festivals and in cabaret, ran her own trio and guested with the BBC Big Band and Stan Tracey’s Orchestra (most notably in their performances of Duke Ellington’s sacred works in Durham and Ely cathedrals; the resulting album is on 33 Jazz).

Often heard in clubs, she also combined with fellow-vocalists Barbara Jay and Lee Gibson in their successful touring show Ella Fitzgerald Song Book Revisited, with MD Tommy Whittle (album on Spotlite). Her collaborations with Iles began in the late 1990s, and endured on record and in person, their albums and obvious rapport always highly regarded. May taught at the Royal Academy, mentoring young singers, and was a trusted confidante to many. It was her fruitful association with 33 Records, this running to some 18 albums with more planned, and those with Linn Records and Hep (with the Griffith big band and small group) that placed her firmly among the most enterprising of British jazz vocalists. Known for her flawless intonation and fresh, often bold delivery, May’s recording with star US pianist Bryant earned this Morton & Cook accolade: “Quite simply, a faultless vocal album.”

Jazzwise offers its heartfelt condolences to Ben and Gemma, the children of her marriage to drummer Clark Tracey which ended in divorce, to her sister Vivian and to her partner, saxophonist Simon Spillett. As Paul Jolly of 33 Records put it: “She was simply the best.”