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By phone call
020 7254 4097
Please note that 48 hours notice is required for phone booking cancellations.
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The 'book online' links will take you to the secure site.
Concessionary rates
A reduction of £2 (on the door price shown),
from Monday to Thursday inclusive only, for members of:
- The National Union of Students
- Musicians Union
- unemployed
Please note that concessionary tickets can only be purchased at the door and proof of identity will be required.
Doors open
8pm - all gigs start at 8.45pm unless shown otherwise.
New bistro and bar now open
Downstairs from The Vortex, the bar offers a menu of delicious, simple, modern dishes and a range of wines and beers.
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July 2008 gigs
Online booking available now.
Tuesday 8 | 8.30pm | £7 | Book online
Richard Godwin
Featuring Tom Cawley
Richard Godwin is a 27-year-old singer from north London. Backing himself with finger-picked acoustic guitar, he sings haunting, dramatic, humorous ballads in a louche baritone that has drawn comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Jacques Brel.
In his own compositions Godwin draws on French chanson and English vaudeville tradition – as well as his day job as journalist at the Evening Standard – often singing in character (a sexually frustrated butler on “One of Many”; a cracked music hall performer on “Variety”).
He recorded the One of Many E.P. with the pianist Tom Cawley (Curios, Acoustic Ladyland) in February 2008 and tonight marks their first live collaboration.
"...a voice that leans over the microphone like a drunk, simultaneously terrifying and charming the barmaid, rambling and vulnerable..." (Torture Garden) "Melancholy loveliness of the highest order" (Tiny Dancing).
Wednesday 9 | 8.45pm | £8 | Book online
Inner Space Music
Launch of the new CD 'Five Animal Dances'. See Chris Parker's review.
'...one of the happiest evenings I've heard in jazz for many a long night. Like all the best innovators, they're hard to categorise...mainly ensemble playing with a sensuousness reminiscent of the way New Orleans cornet and clarinet interweave' (Karl Dallas – The Morning Star).
Loz Speyer (trumpet/flugel/compostions), Chris Biscoe (alto sax/alto clarinet), Julie Walkington (double bass), Seb Rochford or Graham Fox (drums).
Thursday 10 | 8.45pm | £8 | Book online
Paul Dunmall, John Edwards and Tony Marsh
Free impro night featuring saxophonist Paul Dunmall who is just back from The States having played with Henry Grimes and Andrew Cyrille. With bassist John Edwards and Tony Marsh on drums. Evan Parker, originally scheduled to play tonight, is unavailable.
Friday 11 | 8.45pm | £12 | Book online
Grand Union Bangla Band
Rags, Tals and Bollywood
More than just an East West Fusion – this Grand Union show explores Indian classical music, Bhangra, Bangladeshi folk music, the songs of Nasrul and Bollywood with jazz, African and Latin rhythms too. Featuring some of the finest and most authentic performers of jazz and world music in the UK today, including visiting sarod virtuoso Shahadat Hossein Khan, the strong and varied repertoire will be performed by:
Lucy Rahman (Bangladesh) – voice, harmonium
Shahadat Hossein Khan (Bangladesh) – sarod
Kutub Uddin (Bangladesh) – bansuri (bamboo flute)
Claude Deppa (South Africa) – trumpet, percussion
Yousuf Ali Khan (Bangladesh) – tabla, dholak
Louise Elliott (Australia) – tenor saxophone, flute
Tony Haynes (England) – piano, trombone, dijeridu
Gerry Hunt (England) – guitar, bass guitar, saxophones
Brian Abrahams (South Africa) – drums, voice
Andres Lafone (Uruguay) – bass guitar
Saturday 12 | 8.45pm | £12 | Book online
Grand Union Bangla Band
As Friday 11.
Sunday 13 | 8.45pm | £3 (free to musicians) | Book online
Jazz Arc Jam Session
Featuring John Martin (tnr sax), Roger Beaujolais (vibes), Vanessa McGowan (bass) and Julian Saul (drums). ‘An exciting collective of up-and-coming London-based musicians’ (Time Out).
Monday 14 | 8.45pm | £10 | Book online
Bojan Z, Seb Rochford, Ruth Goller
The Vortex debut of Bojan Zulfikarpasic, to give him his full name. Bojan is one of those pianists who has an awesome arsenal which includes all the jazz language as well as classical knowledge and a penchant for the folksongs of his country.
He’s a powerful stylist with a percussive left hand and a knack for arrestingly melodic right-hand runs. His playing has elements of anybody from Byard to Monk to Tyner yet his melodic ingenuity and distinctive touch betray the influence of the khanoon players of Turkey and the Middle East.
In 2005 he was awarded the "European Jazz Prize" ( Hans Koller Prize) as the best European jazz artist. His CD "Xenophonia" won the prize "Les victoires du jazz 2007" as the best album of the year.
With Seb Rochford on drums and Ruth Goller bass.
'His eclectic mix of contemporary rhythms with angular harmonies and free-wheeling jazz places him in a loose bracket with Uri Caine and Neil Cowley... ' (The Guardian).
Tuesday 15 | 8.45pm | £10 | Book online
Bojan Z, Seb Rochford, Ruth Goller
Details as Monday 14.
Wednesday 16 | 8.45pm | £8 | Book online
Ma
Ma return to the Vortex to celebrate the release their first album, recorded at the infamous Red Rose. Expect to hear a glimpse of the ever-shifting sonic palette they command – bustling drones; bluesy dub-like walkabouts; shifting, broken grooves and fearsome improvisation.
Their album is being released on brand new MiniLoop records – which will also be launched at the gig. Featuring Tom Challenger (saxophone), Ross Stanley (keyboards/organ) and Dave Smith (drums).
Thursday 17 | 8.45pm | £8 | Book online
Led Bib
Full throttle, viscerally powerful and intense, subjecting everything from Erik Satie and simple musical hooks to a no-holds-barred approach, their two-saxophone front line powered by leader Mark Holub's pounding drums.
'Led Bib's considerable appeal is based on a refreshingly straightforward approach: establish an accommodating groove then go for it, taking no prisoners along the way' (Chris Parker).
Friday 18 | 8.45pm | £10 | Book online
Partisans
Gritty be-bop and hard bop, early electric Miles, rock riffs, grooves and ballads with sustained delicacy – Partisans are one of the first of the new wave of UK jazz bands to be influenced as much by Jimi Hendrix as by Miles Davis or Sonny Rollins and their visceral, groove-based sound bridges the gap between New York swing and rock.
Julian Siegel (sax, bass clarinet), Phil Robson (guitar), Thaddeus Kelly (bass), Gene Calderazzo (drums) plus Jim Watson (organ). 'One of the most exciting all star experimental groups in jazz today' (BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line Up).
Saturday 19 | 8.45pm | £12 | Book online
John Etheridge Quartet
John Etheridge rightly enjoys a glowing reputation throughout the jazz world and beyond and has been described as, "One of the best guitarists in the world" by Pat Metheny.
A prodigiously gifted and creative player whose approach to music can only be described as eclectic, John's range is well illustrated by his years of touring and recording with the iconic Stephane Grappelli and The Soft Machine.
Equally at home on acoustic and electric guitar, John's willingness to engage with many styles is matched by his ability to excel in all of them. He has played with John Williams, Yehudi Menuhin, Dizzie Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Nigel Kennedy, Pat Metheny, Birelli Lagrene, Barney Kessel, Vic Juris and countless others.
Tonight the quartet features Julian Siegel (saxophone), Pete Whittaker (organ) and Mark Fletcher (drums).
Sunday 20 | 8.45pm | £7/4 | Book online
Mopomoso
This month’s Mopomoso concert continues to maintain its reputation for hosting the best in free improvisation.
Barkingside
‘Barkingside’ is made up of four highly respected virtuoso musicians – Alex Ward (clarinet), Alexander Hawkins (piano), Dominic Lash (bass) and Paul May (percussion) – who have been honing and developing their special group interplay for a number of years and gaining audiences and critical acclaim along the way.
Their music is always invigorating and inventive, displaying a collective imagination second to none.
Edwards/Northover
John Edwards (bass) Adrian Northover (saxophone) have been playing together for some time and their duo, a fiery mix of conventional and extended playing techniques, is full of wit and imagination. Their appearance here is part of a Jazz Services tour.
Alonso/Kaul/Wales/Russell
Albert Kaul (piano), John Russell (guitar) Saxophonist Chefa Alonso and Ashley Wales (electronics) are long-term playing partners and toured Spain last year with German pianist Albert Kaul with well-received performances at the Hurta Cordel festival in Madrid.
Theirs is a music of deep involvement from soundscapes to individual tones, intensity to silence coming from an enormously broad understanding of many different musical forms.
They are joined by renowned acoustic guitarist John Russell for what promises to be a very special performance.
Monday 21 | 8.45pm | £17 | Book online
Vinicius Cantuaria
The legendary Brazilian multi-instrumentalist is now confirmed to play three nights at the Vortex in July. A unique chance to see one of the world's greatest singer-songwriters in the intimate setting of the Vortex Jazz Club.
Described as 'the doyen of the Brazilian singer-songwriters' Vinicius Cantuaria is one of the world's most sublime artists. His gentle, elegiac, subtly subversive music placing him in a lineage that includes the great Tom Jobim (whose Vino Sonhando he covers on Cymbals) and Caetano Veloso (who recorded his song Lua E Estrella).
But while his music has the subtle, sad beauty of the greatest bossa nova songs, it’s has a darker hue. Listen closely and beneath the mellow lyricism you’ll find a pricklier world as befits an artist who has collaborated with the likes of David Byrne, Brian Eno, Bill Frissell and Arto Lindsay.
He appears here with his new band featuring New York-based Japanese trumpeter/keyboardist Takuya and three Brazilian percussionists, Takuya (trumpet and keyboard), Adriano Santos (drums) and Nanny Assis and Dende (percussion).
With support from
Olivia Chaney
A gifted virtuoso, this young folk singer conjurse dark-eyed sailors, damsels in distress and rakish Knights from an Indian harmonium and steel-string guitar.
Expect to be charmed, moved and entertained by a performer and musician of unusual depth and passion.
Early booking highly recommended!
Tuesday 22 | 8.45pm | £17 | Book online
Vinicius Cantuaria
As Monday 21.
With support from
Nick Mulvey
Beautiful music inspired from around the world, with a particularly focus on Africa and Congolese guitar styles.
Nick Mulvey is a singer, guitarist and is also known for his hang playing (a dome like steel pan instrument, which was invented by two Swiss instrument-designers less than a decade ago) with the inspirational Portico Quartet, who have recently been signed to the Vortex label.
Wednesday 23 | 8.45pm | £17 | Book online
Vinicius Cantuaria
As Monday 21.
With support from
Ayanna Witter-Johnson
A unique, captivating and talented young composer, songwriter, vocalist, cellist and pianist who has developed from a diverse background of mixed cultures.
She widely performs her own material as well as working with other artists including, Soul II Soul, Jason Yarde, Nitin Sawhney and Courtney Pine. '...one of our rising stars of the future' (Courtney Pine).
Thursday 24 | 8.45pm | £9 | Book online
Ingrid Laubrock Quintet
Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock is one of the most in-demand musicians on the London cutting edge and has performed with such jazz luminaries as Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Cobham, David Liebman and Django Bates. ‘Listening to Laubrock play live is thrilling and momentous not only for the music, which is incandescent, but also for the sense of occasion. You know you are witnessing the arrival of a major new voice on the international stage, one which seems to grow more daring and resonant with every gig’ (All About Jazz). With Ben Davis (cello), Barry Green (piano), Larry Bartley (bass) and Stuart Ritchie (drums).
Friday 25 | 8.45pm | £3 | Book online
Annie Whitehead’s World Music Workshop Band
For the second year running, the Vortex is hosting the five-day World Music Big Band Summer Workshop and Friday night gig run by trombonist Annie Whitehead.
Following the week’s workshops the band will be playing big band material from South Africa, Jamaica, America through to Cuban and contemporary British jazz.
The band features Jennifer Maidman (bass), Nico Ramsden (guitar) and Mark Huggett (drums) plus four trumpets, four trombones and seven saxophones. ‘A big, colourful riotous mix of world meets funk meets workshop band!’
Last year’s workshop was a runaway success, and the Friday night Vortex gig filled the club to capacity.
Saturday 26 | 8.45pm | £12 | Book online
Ian Shaw
Named ‘Best Jazz Vocalist’ at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2007 and 2004, the UK’s premier male vocalist, Ian Shaw doing what he does best – singing solo (or with hand-picked accompanists, such as guitarist Dave Preston), drink in hand, in a relaxed, intimate setting. Shaw is a superb performer of both other people’s songs and his own, as heard on his new album of self-penned material – ‘Lifejacket’ – ‘A suite of stories recalling friendships past and present, childhood dreams and dodgy Soho nights’ (Jazzwise March 2008).
Sunday 27
closed
Monday 28
closed
Tuesday 29 | 8.45pm | £7 | Book online
Sam Crowe Group
Featuring Will Vinson
Pianist Sam Crowe has been a fixture in the London jazz scene since 2003 and built his sound for this group around an aesthetic that draws from many styles and genres including funk, jazz, drum and bass, hip-hop and rock.
The group in its current incarnation features soprano and tenor man Adam Waldmann who has been wowing crowds for years with his beautifully lyrical approach. Also featured will be F-ire and LOOP collective bassist Jasper Hoiby whose strength of groove and rhythmic concept brings an exciting edge to any musical situation. On drums is Jon Scott whose snap-crackle playing gives the band an intense fire.
The acclaimed New York based alto saxophonist Will Vinson, will be joining The Sam Crowe Group for this one-off gig, described by Jack Massarik as 'the thinking man's alto saxophonist...Britain's Greg Osby'.
Wednesday 30 | 8.45pm | £8 | Book online
The Quartet
Jack Hues (guitar), Sam Bailey (piano, keyboard), Tom Mason (double bass) and Dave Smith (drums) – sometimes augmented by special guests Paul Booth (saxophone) and Raven Bush (violin).
The-Quartet is the free and unbounded collaboration of four different but like-minded musicians. See Chris Parker's review of their current album 'Illuminated'.
Citing influences including Thelonius Monk, Brad Mehldau, Radiohead, Charles Mingus, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis, The-Quartet's creative heart is Jack Hues and Sam Bailey.
Despite radically different musical backgrounds, they have become an intuitive and prolific creative partnership. A gifted songwriter and composer, Jack has a string of top 20 hits, film soundtracks and production credits to his name, including Wang Chung and Definition of Sound. Sam is a classically trained pianist, a former pupil of the late Ronald Smith, who brings enormous talent as a composer and improviser to the process.
'...immediately accessible and satisfyingly complex' (Chris Parker).
Thursday 31 July – Monday 4 August | 8.45pm | £tbc
Time Out – 'On the Up Festival'
Time Out will be curating the Vortex for a long weekend, programming
their hot tips for 2009 in music, comedy, art and design.
Details to be confirmed.
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Wednesday 9 July
Inner Space Music
Launching the new CD 'Five Animal Dances'.
Fri 11 & Sat 12 July
Grand Union Bangla Band
Rags, Tals and Bollywood
More than just an East West Fusion – this Grand Union show explores Indian classical music, Bhangra, Bangladeshi folk music, the songs of Nasrul and Bollywood with jazz, African and Latin rhythms.
Mon 14 & Tue 15 July
Bojan Z
with Seb Rochford & Ruth Goller
''His eclectic mix of contemporary rhythms with angular harmonies and free-wheeling jazz places him in a loose bracket with Uri Caine and Neil Cowley... ' (The Guardian).
21, 22 & 23 July
Vinicius Cantuaria
The legendary Brazilian multi-instrumentalist is now confirmed to play three nights at the Vortex in July. A unique chance to see one of the world's greatest singer - songwriters.
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