Susan May
"Black Coffee"
S-SSD 0114
UPC: 700797011424
Nov. 15, 2005
"...the voice of an older woman, amazing" Oprah Winfrey-ABC-National TV
"Someone you should know" Harry Porterfield-ABC-7 News, Chicago
"May astonishes with her artistry" Fawn Ring-WTTW-Channel 11, Chicago
14 year old Susan May continues her musical journey with her second Southport Release, "Black Coffee." The mixture of youth and voice gives her audience a renewed picture of her world and dreams, as Susan makes songs from the past feel new, and the listener becomes part of her vision.
Once again Susan entrusts her musical arrangements with veteran Southport pianist/arranger and composer Bobby Schiff with 11 tracks from The Great American Songbook. When Susan sings the classic standard and title track "Black Coffee" it is as if she is looking into the window of a New York SoHo coffee shop and reading the life emotions of those clustered inside. On "Willow Weep for Me" Susan brings a new resonance to the dreamy melody, and check out Bobby Lewis on flugelhom. .. it is the Lewis and May expedition!
The voice, life and art of Susan May brings renewed hope to the world of music. For there was a time when words and melody fell from the radio, before the endless one dimensional pathos of new music's current existence. Susan May is the voice that pulls from all sides.
"The Rose"
S-SSD 0102
UPC: 700797010229
October 2003
“People can’t believe their ears! …go girl!”
-Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC-TV
“Susan’s singing voice, with it’s unbelievable 3½ octave range seems to come from
somewhere outside her …intelligent and mature.”
-Debra Pickett, The Chicago Sun-Times
“Susan May is Someone You Should Know”
-Harry Porterfield, Anchor/Reporter/Producer Someone You Should Know
ABC Seven News, Chicago
The beauty of the human voice, the gift to sing is like a rare flower. Susan May, at the age of twelve, becomes Southport Records youngest vocalist. Her voice has been falling from the sky since the tender age of 6. She loves jazz and blues and songs that her mom and dad played around the house. A constant favorite is the music of film/pop composer Henry Mancini (tracks 4, “Bye Bye-The Peter Gunn Theme” and track 6, “Soldier In The Rain.” The title track 1, “The Rose,” represents the essence of her jazz sensibility and treatment of a tune.
Susan May made her national television debut on the Oprah Winfrey Show, as part of the program called “The World’s Most Talented Kids,” singing an excerpt from her CD, “Feelin’ Good.”
Don’t let the novelty of youth fool you. Susan bears witness to the emotional demands of her music. She has assembled a team of Chicago based musicians that include arranger Bobby Schiff on piano (toured with Patti LaBelle), and trumpet/flugel horn ace Bobby Lewis (countless sessions that include Curtis Mayfield and Peggy Lee).
The music of Susan May can be called jazz and pop and a bit of cabaret. The beauty of her youth is that it is the beginning of a life journey, and music is a part of her heart. Let’s wish her a wonderful ride.