Tesser's career has spanned over five decades, and has included work as a journalist, music critic, radio host and author. Tesser was a long-time jazz critic at the
Chicago Reader, beginning his work there in the 1970s. Earlier in his career he wrote Reader's
Hot Type column, covering sports among other topics. As a radio host, Tesser has hosted the nationally syndicated programs
Miles Ahead and
Listen Here!, as well as Chicago-based jazz shows on
WNIB,
WBEZ,
WSBC,
WCFJ. He currently hosts the Chicago portion of "Jazz Across America" which airs and streams at KSDS -FM in San Diego. As an author, Tesser wrote
The Playboy Guide to Jazz, published in 1998 by
Plume. He has composed liner notes for nearly 600 albums, which have garnered him one
Grammy Award and another nomination. Artists for whom Tesser has written liner notes include
Blood, Sweat & Tears,
John Coltrane,
Freddie Hubbard,
Gil Scott-Heron,
Kurt Elling,
Sonny Rollins,
Thelonious Monk,
Chick Corea,
Bill Evans and
Patricia Barber. Tesser is a member of
The Recording Academy, formerly serving as vice chair of the board of trustees. ==Awards and nominations==