Tina May

Tina and I have been friends for many, many years, and have worked together on numerous occasions, including the regular New Years Eve party at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, London for the last five years. As we always had a good time we often spoke about the possibility of making an album together at some time. Well, we finally happened to be in the position where we would both be able to link up for long enough to get together and for Linn to record the material.

The material chosen for the project has a diversity that one would expect from Tina and shows her versatility to good effect. The songs presented range from some romantic ballads, including the title song from Rogers and Hart and September In The Rain (sung in French) to a Paul Simon number and the Snake's song from The Jungle Book. The latter is a great favourite of my two sons and also with Tina's children.

I have a particular affection for Tonight I Shall Sleep with A Smile On My Face. This Ellingtonian ballad has long been a staple of my repertoire, but for this version Tina managed to unearth the verse, which to my knowledge has not previously been recorded.

It was my pleasure to not only finally record with Tina but to work with such high calibre musicians and friends to make this, for me, a very memorable CD.
Scott Hamilton