Don Sickler: "If you know or have listened to Cal Tjader's instrumental version of
Cuban Fantasy, you'll notice there are two major differences between his instrumental recording and this vocal treatment. First is the tempo. Instrumentally, the composition works great at a faster tempo, but that's not practical if there are words to sing. Great compositions can often work at a variety of tempos, and this one does. Tina May loves it as a medium Latin.
"The second difference is the arrangement. Tina wanted to save the classic instrumental introduction (which is also used as the instrumental ending) for the climactic lyric ending for this arrangement (vocalist
tutti with the band.) So I created a new introduction for this
Ray Bryant Songbook project. Our audio clip starts with the baritone sax and bass pick up to the last two measures of my introduction. However, Tina designed the lyric so the arrangement could begin, like the instrumental recordings, with the final eight measures, if you desire."
For vocalists who would like to sing this with their own groups, instrumental lead sheets in
B-flat concert (the original key) are available.
Lyric Description: This is a 32-measure AABA song form, and Tina May describes her
;Fantasy For Two over two choruses: one melody chorus after the introduction, and a final chorus after the solo choruses. Using contemporary phrases and real-life situations ("If ever you're feelin' blue, and life is very hard for you" - "You're like a happy refrain, you're in my heart and in my brain'), Tina's lyric paints a delightful landscape of a happy relationship.
Singers' Corner No-vocal version: Tina May's recording
CLIP and our MP3 (without vocal)
CLIP2 both have the same eight-measure introduction. After the first chorus of lyric, there are two solo choruses (the second with a horn background) so you can practice vocalizing or scat singing. Then comes the last full lyric chorus, with the classic ending. Click on the Minus You tab for additional information.
If another key would be better for you, send the key you'd like to
Don and we'll post the transposition on the website for purchase. If you're not sure which key is best, send us your range and we'll work with you to figure out the best key.
"Tina May Sings The Ray Bryant Songbook" was recorded at the legendary
Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
This is the lyric version of Ray Bryant's instrumental
Cuban Fantasy, which became a Latin jazz standard after Cal Tjader made his classic recording in 1960 with Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo.
Ray Bryant had been a fan of Tina's singing since they first met in Paris in 1997, and they often talked about performing or recording together. As is often the case, a catalyst was needed to turn that vague desire into a tangible project. In this particular case, the person who made it happen was Don Sickler. Don is a versatile and highly respected figure on the New York jazz scene. He is a great trumpet player but also well known as an arranger, record producer and music publisher. The album is a definitive recording of Ray Bryant's compositions with lyrics sung and mostly written by Tina, with arrangements by Don. The whole album was recorded at the Van Gelder Recording Studio (home of the Blue Note sound) in November 2002, with the great man engineering the session himself!
Hear more of Tina May and Ray Bryant on "
The Ray Bryant Songbook."
Singers' Corner No-vocal version: Tina May's recording
CLIP and our MP3 (without vocal)
CLIP2 both have the same eight-measure introduction. After the first chorus of lyric, there are two solo choruses (the second with a horn background) so you can practice vocalizing or scat singing. Then comes the last full lyric chorus, with the classic ending.
Both Tina's complete version and the minus you audio track are in B-flat. If you need the audio in a slightly different key, GarageBand, Audacity or other software can often change the pitch without changing the tempo.
If you'd like the lead sheet in a different key, send the key you'd like to
Don and we'll post the transposition on the website for purchase. If you're not sure which key is best, send us your range and we'll work with you to figure out the best key.
