Jazz Vocalist at Nighttown

It’s been nearly 20 years since Detroit native Victoria Rummler settled in Paris. During that time, the singer and dancer discovered a passion for vocal jazz, honing her craft with renowned teachers, recording with the cutting-edge a cappella group Les Grandes Gueules, and releasing two albums of her own including last year’s Am I Am. Somewhere along the way, she also started performing with Italian jazz pianist Nico Morelli, blending her lithe, supple voice with his sensuous rhythms. Much of their work relies on improvisation, Rummler says from Paris. “At this point, we’ve established a groove. Our instruments are very different, but we really try to complement each other in terms of the lyrical, legato, and percussive components.” You can hear what she means tonight at Nighttown, as the duo returns to the intimate venue for the first time in seven years. Rummler predicts the playlist will be a mixed bag: some tunes off her CD, some previews from a forthcoming album, and some of Morelli’s solo work as well. Plus there’ll be a few musical surprises —renditions of old standards done up for a new day. “Basically it should be a pretty joyful evening,” says Rummler. “We’re really just trying to take the music where it wants to go.” Tickets to tonight’s 7 p.m. show are $10. Make reservations by phone.