Rick Simpson presents his first Piano Trio project. This is a trio that thrives on freedom and interaction. Original tunes and inventive arrangements become launching points for improvisation, with the band slipping effortlessly from one piece into another.

The trio present a buoyant and elusive jazz, driven by referential investigation and an unorthodox approach to the warp and phase of rhythm.

Frost and Marrows come together with a brilliant rhythm section of Huw V Williams on double bass and Ollie Peszynski on drums in this co-led band to perform a selection of their own compositions as well as some their favourite music from celebrated jazz musicians/composers including Paul Motian, Keith Jarrett and Joe Zawinul.

John Etheridge’s reputation in the jazz world cannot be overstated. A genuinely virtuosic fusion guitarist, Etheridge is one of a handful of players who can claim to have helped shape the character of modern jazz guitar.

Queer Jazz exists to platform, nurture and celebrate the emerging queer jazz scene. Programmed by Tina Edwards and Arowah, they have put together an exciting monthly programme of innovative LGBTQI+ artists at The Vortex Jazz Club, supported by Arts Council England.

Featuring Sacha Harlan (drums), Tom Challenger (tenor saxophone), Caius Williams (double bass) & Tom O’Brien (piano)

Join us for an unforgettable night of jazz as two of London’s premier saxophonists, Denys Baptiste and Tony Kofi, reunite to present a powerful new project.

Emerging from the Vortex’s Future Standards community, the quintet returns with an afternoon set of original compositions. Blending a diverse range of styles and influences – from hard bop and Third Stream to reggae and drum & bass – this is a chance to experience the beating heart of East London’s new jazz scene. Featuring Santiago Horro on bass, Eric Lounsbury on trumpet and flugelhorn, Drummond Moir on guitar, Paulina Szczepaniak on drums and Cheng Xie on piano.

The return of legendary British trumpet player Henry Lowther and his ‘Still Waters’ band feat. Pete Hurt (tenor saxophone), Barry Green (piano), Dave Green (double bass) and Paul Clarvis (drums).

Cellist, composer and MacArthur Fellow Tomeka Reid explores new improvisational math with 3+3, the third release by her all-star quartet and her most adventurous project as a leader yet. Featuring Jason Roebke on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, and fellow MacArthur Fellow Mary Halvorson on guitar.

Cellist, composer and MacArthur Fellow Tomeka Reid explores new improvisational math with 3+3, the third release by her all-star quartet and her most adventurous project as a leader yet. Featuring Jason Roebke on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, and fellow MacArthur Fellow Mary Halvorson on guitar.

Pete Horsfall launches ELECTRIC RELAXATION, his first record on the Banger Factory label, with this special show. Influences from Duke Ellington to MF DOOM collide, in a set that showcases Pete’s deep and explosive engagement with the jazz, classical and hiphop traditions.

Finn Genockey is a jazz drummer, composer and bandleader based in London. Since starting drums at the age of 6, Finn has had plenty of experience performing regularly with some of the most notable jazz artists such as Rufus Reid and Stan Sulzmann

Saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes leads MY IRIS, an intense and thrilling quartet with Ross Stanley (piano / Hammond organ), Chris Montague (guitar) and Joel Barford (drums). Dedicated to exploration and adroit writing, Clowes provides her bandmates with a unique platform for individual expression and group interplay, delivering driving grooves and lingering melodic lines, seamlessly morphing between earthy restlessness and futuristic dreamscapes.

Anna Chandler-King brings an intimate and deeply emotional set of intricately arranged music written around the passing of her mother, and a nonet comprised of some of her favourite musicians that were there for her when she needed them.

Guitarist Hannes Riepler returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring George Crowley (sax), Freddie Jensen (double bass) & James Maddren (drums).

Mongolian singer Enji presents her newest album Sonor which explores questions of identity and belonging through metaphoric language, vigilant and always hopeful. On stage, Enji performs her new songs in the familiar trio lineup with River Adomeit on bass and co-composer Paul Brändle on guitar.

Queer Jazz exists to platform, nurture and celebrate the emerging queer jazz scene. Programmed by Tina Edwards and Arowah, they have put together an exciting monthly programme of innovative LGBTQI+ artists at The Vortex Jazz Club, supported by Arts Council England.

Almost three years to the day, one of Ireland’s improvising masters Paul G. Smyth returns with the incomparable pairing of John Edwards and Mark Sanders, marking their 10th anniversary as a trio.

American trombonist Steve Swell comes to the UK as part of the Paul Dunmall Invites series run by TDE Promotions in Birmingham in which Paul Dunmall invites key improvisers to join him in an improvised session.

Lukas DeRungs is an award winning pianist-composer hailing from Mannheim, Germany. His second album ‘Wake’ was released in February 2025 and sees him return to a quintet setting, alongside 4 of his favourite improvising musicians.