What Shapes A Soul? explores spirituality in music and takes the listener on a journey from American gospel and spiritual hymns to their routes in African folk music. Opening with the music of the present day, Steven Banks’s monumental Come As You Are integrates the religious hymns of gospel and Romantic classical music, a piece given its UK premiere by Samuel and Jo in 2023. The programme moves through the soundscapes of gospel and soul, before progressing into New Orleans jazz and African spiritual. The concert closes with the Suite after Abel Selaocoe, exploring Selaocoe’s unique musical voice and bringing African traditional music to new audiences. What Shapes A Soul? is touring across the UK in 2025 and 2026, with saxophonist Samuel Beddard and pianist Jo Foote.