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Hear Tessa Souter in Words and Song, with Guitarist David Gilmore, on Singers Unlimited

Joseph Bogges
Tessa Souter

Tessa Souter is a literally international singer. According to the analysis from a DNA-checking service, she’s made up of genes from an English mother, a Trinidadian father, and a variety of other peoples, including from eight countries around Africa. 

Her newest album, Picture in Black and White, includes songs from around the world that lives in Tessa:  Milton Nascimento’s “Nothing Will Be As It Was,” Jon Lucien’s “Child of Love,” Bobby Scott’s “A Taste of Honey,” Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman,” McCoy Tyner’s “Contemplation,” and U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name,” all with echoes from around Africa. She’s also written the album’s title song and a lyric to Wayne Shorter’s “Ana Maria.” 

Tessa Souter will perform this Friday, Dec. 14, at the 55 Bar. She’ll also perform on Jan. 8 at Mezzrow, before touring around Russia.

Michael Bourne, who died on August 21, 2022, was a presence on the air at WBGO between the end of 1984 and the start of 2022 when he retired from full-time hosting duty. He is the host of the Singers Unlimited Podcast by WBGO Studios. Previously, he hosted the popular Singers Unlimited (1985-2022). He also hosted the equally popular Blues Break for several years. Michael is a senior contributor to Down Beat, with the magazine since 1969. Doctor Bourne earned a PhD in Theatre from Indiana University -- which comes in handy when he's a theatre critic for the WBGO Journal.