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Tessa Souter
Beyond the Blue
Motéma ****
Released first of all in 2011 in Japan by Venus records but with a different mix, London-born singer Tessa Souter has at last made her mark with a single album following years of her being one to watch, and Beyond the Blue based as it is around the idea of setting new lyrics of hers, for the most part, to celebrated melodies from the classical music popular repertoire, amounts to that long anticipated breakthrough. Souter has a poised, characterful, and in-command style, and there is plenty to savour here not least title track ‘Beyond the Blue’ with Souter’s succinctly satisfying lyrics set to Chopin’s ‘Prelude in E Minor’, and the subtlety of ‘Sunrise’, the singer’s optimistically inclined lyric to the third movement of Brahms’ Third Symphony. Souter’s band on Beyond the Blue is excellent, with pianist Steve Kuhn a connoisseur’s choice as ever, and vibist Joe Locke approachably effusive. Joel Frahm fills the romantic tenor saxophone role beautifully. (Think a slightly more wistful, less worldly wise, Ernie Watts perhaps.) David Finck is a suitably lingering presence on bass, and Billy Drummond comfortably knowing on drums. The little touches from Gary Versace on accordion add more than a certain something as well, and fold in a hint of bal-musette (on the Prince Igor-derived ‘Dance With Me’) that adds to the bygone feel of portions of this fine record. Souter is a singer clearly blessed with a voice to believe in. SG

Out on 4 February. Tessa Souter plays the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London on 9-10 February