Tessa Souter

London-born of Trinidadian and English parents, New York-based vocalist, composer, and lyricist Tessa Souter (soo-ter) uniquely infuses jazz with the soul and passion of flamenco, Indian and Middle Eastern music. "The best thing is that Souter sounds different." [Karl Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer]. Acclaimed as "one of the few exceptional standouts in the crowded field of female jazz singers" [Don Heckman, International Review of Music], "the free-spirited 'Obsession' should introduce her to many new fans worldwide." [Ken Dryden, All Music Guide].

"Compelling and utterly original."

Paul Quinn, Jazzwise magazine

Recorded with Jason Ennis, Gary Wang, Conor Meehan, Todd Reynolds, Ansel Matthews and accordion player Victor Prieto, she presents "a collection of jazz tunes by the likes of Kenny Barron, Freddie Hubbard and Milton Nascimento, along with jazz versions of fellow-Brits Nick Drake's 'River Man,' Cream's 'White Room"' and the Beatles' 'Eleanor Rigby', and in so doing creates a kind of modern Great Anglo-American Songbook," [Berkshire Living magazine]. It's a multicultural banquet that reflects her conjoined African, Indian, and English bloodlines. "But there is no room for debate about her handling of jazz material. Her subtle yet sizzling take of Mongo Santamaria's 'Afro Blue' interweaves the bass line of Wayne Shorter's 'Footprints' ... while Souter shimmers in her performance of Kenny Barron's engaging "'Crystal Rain' ('Sunshower')." [All Music Guide com]

"Striking, soulful, enchanting...."

Mike Joyce, Washington Post

Her first CD, Listen Love, won critical raves for her "crystal clear voice and diamond cut phrasing" (Michael Harrington, Philadelphia Inquirer) and "direct, soulful sound" (Will Friedwald, Village Voice). Her sophomore CD, Nights of Key Largo, recorded on the Japanese audiophile label, Venus, with all-stars Kenny Werner, Billy Drummond, Jay Leonhart, Joel Frahm, and Trio de Paz guitarist Romero Lubambo, won the coveted Gold Disc award in January 2009's Swing Journal, which said of her, "there are traces of Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae in her phrasing, and Julie London and Peggie Lee in her delicate breathing, which harbors a touch of sorrow."

"A gripping display of her ability to do it all with a startlingly far reaching collection of material." Don Heckman, International Review of Music

A latecomer to professional singing, after moving to New York in 1996, Souter started sitting in at jazz jams, before winning a scholarship to study at New York's Manhattan School of Music in 1998. She left to study privately with jazz vocal legend Mark Murphy, who mentored her for four years and says of her, "She is a true musician ... extraordinary and very moving." Since her professional debut in 1999, Souter has developed into a phenomenal live performer, "... completely captivating audiences" [Murphy] all over the world.

"Subtle yet sizzling ... Souter shimmers." Ken Dryden, AllMusicGuide

Heralded by Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times as "a must-see for lovers of world class jazz", Souter has sold out venues from the Blue Note, Joe's Pub and Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, New York, to Pizza Express, Live on the Park and the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, in the UK, to the Union of Composers Club, Moscow, and a series of concert halls across Siberia. To quote a recent live review [of her sold out return to the Rochester International Jazz Festival 2009]: "To say that Souter enchanted the audience would be an understatement .... The capacity crowd seemed to be transfixed by Souter's gorgeous voice and wonderful personality." (Ron Netsky, Rochester City Paper). "Better still, she delivers it with a wit and a wink worthy of the toniest joints in town." (Time Out New York)

TESSA PHOTOGRAPHED AT HER BLUE NOTE DEBUT, APRIL 2007, BY RICHARD CONDE