Witch ‘n’ Monk is the duo of Colombian rebel flautist Mauricio Velasierra and British soprano and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg. Pulling together a diverse range of instrumentation; traditional Latin American flutes, unconventional vocals, electric guitar and bespoke electronics, they create a sound that is defiantly their own. The duo have forged an uncompromising, new musical language of composition and improvisation that travels fluidly between forms. Radically manipulated flutes, anarchic soprano vocals and analogue electronics mix with a jazz-punk guitar/bass hybrid.

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The essence of their collaboration is encapsulated in the name; dark and light, feminine and masculine, punk and romantic, free-form and intricately composed. Exploring extremes and creating contrast is fundamental to their work. Treading upon the edges of genre – Witch ‘n’ Monk are equally as celebrated in the jazz and contemporary classical spheres as well as DIY and underground circles.

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Their latest album – 2020’s ‘Witch ’n’ Monk’ – was released by John Zorn’s label Tzadik Records and named ‘Contemporary Album of the Month’ by The Guardian and was awarded the German Critics Award in the crossover category.

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Chris Mapp is a bass player, improviser and composer living and working in Birmingham. His work falls somewhere between composition and improvisation, using sound, music and electronics to satisfy his own sonic curiosity. As a bandleader with Gonimoblast he has worked with Arve Henriksen, Maja Ratkje, Mark Sanders, Leafcutter John and Dan Nicholls as well as being a key member of the healthy Birmingham improvised music scene. In 2018 Chris formed the trio stillefelt with trumpeter Percy Pursglove and guitarist Thomas Seminar Ford. Together they explore the narrative between improvisation, composition and the everyday. He is also one half of CollapseUncollapse with drummer Mark Sanders.

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