Tessa Souter Announces Valentine's Day Performances, 2/11,13

The daughter of English and Trinidadian parents, New York-based lyricist, composer and award-winning vocalist, Tessa Souter's individual style of jazz is as exotically beautiful as it is absolutely unique, evoking Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. "Centered by the sheer skill and vocal artistry with which she imbues everything she sings ... at once unassumingly virtuosic and uncontrivedly emotional, the Souter voice is quite simply one of the most attractive sounds in contemporary vocal jazz." [Chris Parker, Jazz Vortex]

An amazing natural talent who has been heard professionally for only a decade, Tessa's self produced debut, Listen Love, won critical raves for her "crystal clear voice and diamond cut phrasing" [Philadelphia Inquirer] and "direct, soulful sound" [Village Voice]. 

Nights of Key Largo, on the Japanese audiophile label Venus, recorded with  Kenny Werner, Romero Lubambo, Joel Frahm and Billy Drummond, won Swing Journal's Gold Disc review, and Obsession, her recent US release on Motema, has garnered her universally great reviews internationally. "There aren't many, but Tessa is a natural born singer. She's at the top of my list of great talent. She really moves me." says jazz vocal legend, Sheila Jordan. "She's a complete musician, remarkable and very moving," agrees her former mentor, Mark Murphy. "A must-see for lovers of world class jazz." [Los Angeles Times].

She will be appearing at the Jazz Standard with part of her Obsession band Jason Ennis (guitar) and Conor Meehan (drums) plus special guest (and Motema label-mate), bassist Charnett Moffet. Also in February she will perform at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles (her fifth time) and (for the second time) at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay, California (see below).

Friday, February 11. One long set: 9pm
Jazz Bakery "Moveable Feast"
Musicians Institute, 1655 McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90028
https://www.jazzbakery.org
Reservations: 310-271-9039
Cover: $25, $15 for students 21 or under
With Larry Koonse (guitar), Hamilton Price (bass) and Steve Hass (drums)

Sunday, February 13, Two one-hour sets from 4:30 to 7:15 with intermission
Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society
307-11 Mirada Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-4143
http://www.bachddsoc.org
with John Stowell (guitar), Akira Tana (drums), Dan Robbins (bass)
and Christian Tamburr (vibes and piano)
Cover: $30