Miriam Ast/ Victor Gutierrez

Winners of the Best Vocalist Award at the 2017 Bucharest International Jazz Competition and finalists for the renowned Peter Whittingham Award, the duo of German jazz vocalist Miriam Ast and Spanish pianist Victor Gutierrez have been making something of a name for themselves in both the UK and beyond of late. Both alumni of the Royal Academy of Music, where they first met in 2015, their intense musical dialogue that is characterized by warm, lyrical sounds and virtuoso improvisations has been winning over audiences around Europe. Initially gaining a BA in singing and saxophone in Mainz, Germany before graduating from the Royal Academy with an MA distinction, Miriam's pure and distinctive voice, coupled with a surefooted sense of musicality and invention has rapidly established her as an emerging artist of significant talent. A semi-finalist in the prestigious Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition Miriam has also recently taken up the post of senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music. Hailing from Madrid, Victor Gutierrez is an award winning pianist, composer and arranger and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Berklee College of Music. He includes work with the likes of Norma Winstone, Joe Locke, and Terri Lyne Carrington on an impressive CV, has toured venues and festivals in the US, Europe, and Japan and is the recipient of both the Alex Ulanowsky and Herb Pomeroy Awards in Jazz Composition. Tonight Miriam and Victor will be launching their debut CD "Secret Songs", released on Thilo Berg’s esteemed label Mons Records, a superbly crafted collection of jazz standards and original compositions, highlighting the special rapport between these two excellent and appealing players. And to make the evening that little bit more special they have invited Uruguayan percussionist Andres Ticino to join them, along with a musician featured throughout the recording, the iconic UK saxophonist Stan Sulzmann. This promises to be a special night of music-making from some very talented and impressive musicians.

"…Ast’s vocals display a…rare…confidence and maturity…pianist Victor Gutierrez… navigates through the well crafted arrangements. His sense of harmony and rhythm ensure that the lack of a dedicated rhythm section is not at all missed. Highly recommended" Jazz in Europe