NEW York singer Sunny Ozell will let her songs do the talking when she comes to Manchester next Saturday, the penultimate date of a UK tour.

It is a strategy which has certainly paid off so far with the live shows she is doing in support of Teddy Thompson winning her new fans across the country.

One listen to her new album Take It With Me hints at the difficulties you have in trying to put a label on the music that Sunny makes.

For the album features covers from artists as diverse as country legend Hank Williams to Eighties' electro pioneer Howard Jones. In between there are numbers from Randy Newman, T-Bone Burnett and Pops Staples along the way.

"Living in New York I have spent a good part of that time musically just listening to people I looked up to," said Sunny. "I think as you progress as an artist you become more able to be more honest about what you do well and focus on that rather than let the marketplace dictate the sound.

"If pushed my classification of my music would be American soul as there's a suggestion there of something with a groove underneath but I also love classic pop and was inspired by Cassandra Wilson, a jazz singer who takes on anything from the Monkees to Neil Young."

Sunny made her album with Ethan Eubanks, her musical director and drummer who also produced Take It With Me.

"Ethan and I had played together for a while and he said we had a great repertoire and that we needed to record it. Some of the songs on the album were things we were playing pretty regularly but there were also one or two less obvious choices.

"I wasn't sure about covering Howard Jones' No One is to Blame but Ethan pushed me to do it and he was right, the end result is wonderful."

Ethan also put together the musicians who play on the album.

"They all made me better," said Sunny.

"They all have at least 10 years on me and have all been to the mountain top when it comes to experience."

Sunny is thoroughly enjoying her own experience of touring with Teddy Thomson and Kelly Jones. Thompson, son of Richard and Linda Thompson duets with her on her album on I Can't Help It If I'm in love with You.

"They are really spectacular," said Sunny. "Teddy could sing the phone book and be brilliant."

One person who won't be able to make the shows in England will be Sunny's husband, Star Trek and X Men star, actor Patrick Stewart.

"Sadly his schedule won't allow him to come over and see any shows on the tour," said Sunny.

Sunny Ozell supporting Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, Saturday, May 28. Details from 0161 907 5200