Tessa Souter
Striking, soulful, enchanting” (Washington Post), “expressive” (New York Times), “stunningly original (Jazz Times), Anglo-Trinidadian Tessa Souter, whose music contains “Middle Eastern, Brazilian and flamenco elements in an airy jazz framework” (Philadelphia City Paper), has established herself as “an uncommonly creative vocalist and songwriter over the past two decades.” (San Francisco Chronicle)
A jazz vocalist with a sumptuous sound and an unerring ear for fresh and unexpected material—Illustrious fans include acid jazz-vocalist Jon Lucien (“Magnificent! She blew me away!”), jazz vocal legend, Mark Murphy (“Remarkable and very moving.”), and NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan (”A beautiful voice and a beautiful soul. At the top of my list of great talent. She really moves me.”)—Souter knows her way around the American Songbook’s back pages. But ever since the release of her 2004 debut, Listen Love, she has cast an increasingly wide net, from contributing original lyrics to instrumental jazz standards, and re- imagining classic British rock, to her Third Stream project, Beyond the Blue—a London Sunday Times Jazz Record of the Year, starring Steve Kuhn and featuring Souter’s original lyrics to classical gems by Albinoni, Chopin et al.
Born and raised in London, Souter was making her way in the early 1990s as a freelance journalist in San Francisco—where she was one of the original six members of the storied Writer’s Grotto— when she first considered switching careers. She’s thrived since moving to New York in 1997, collaborating with an impressive roster of players.
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Live Review
Album Review
- Picture in Black and White by Victor L. Schermer
Live Review
- Tessa Souter at Pizza Express in London's Soho
- Tessa Souter Quartet: Half Moon Bay, California, December 2, 2012
Album Review
- Beyond The Blue by Victor L. Schermer
- Beyond The Blue by Dan Bilawsky
Live Review
Album Review
Multiple Reviews
Read more articlesOctober 08, 2018
May 22, 2012
April 03, 2012
Vocalist Tessa Souter's 2nd Motema CD, "Beyond The Blue," Due May 8
September 18, 2009
Vocalist Tessa Souter @ Blues Alley - September 21, 2009
June 20, 2009
Norma Winstone, Tessa Souter, Tim Garland, Tony Kofi in Final Made in...
January 22, 2008
NYC-Based British-Caribbean Vocalist Tessa Souter @ Pizza Express, Dean...
January 22, 2008
Tessa Souter @ Joe's Pub, Sunday, January 27, 2008
November 28, 2007
Tessa Souter Trio Friday, December 14th at 55 Bar Sets at 6.15 & 8 PM
October 16, 2007
Tessa Souter at the Jazz Standard, Monday, October 22
August 16, 2007
Tessa Souter Quartet Featuring Guitarist Larry Koonse at the Jazz...
Souter, whose musical sophistication gives her a significant advantage in the competitive clamor surrounding the current world of ambitious female jazz artists, also has the rare quality of authenticity. Unlike many of her contemporaries she seems more focused on exploring the limitless creativity of the art than simply having another go at the Great American Songbook. LOS ANGELES TIMES
On her amazing album Listen Love, she delivers powerful versions of nonstandards such as Pat Martino’s “Willow” and Pharoah Sanders’ complex “The Creator Has a Master Plan,” in addition to her originals, all delivered in a crystal-clear voice with diamond-cut phrasing and a slight tinge of melancholy
Primary Instrument
Voice / vocals
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
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