A good week at the Vortex is one where quality and imagination act as a glue between a great diversity of groups. And make all of them worth attending, for their range and satisfaction!
On Friday 14 April, saxophonist Caroline Kraabel is the motivator behind an intriguing new group of women, non-binary people and trans people: ONe_Orchestra New. With free improvised music so much a chance to reflect on the performers’ identity, this is the perfect opportunity for us to ponder the concepts and celebrate the group’s members.
On Saturday, saxophonist Emma Rawicz, who has a musical maturity and vision way beyond her youth, returns to give us a thrilling evening. Due to high demand (initial show sold-out), we have added a second show at 10pm. So get in while they’re still available.
The wild card of the week is Monday’s return of Résonances on the subject of Illusion. The central drive coming from visual artist Aurelie Freoua, a core of top musicians, including Sam Leak and Cleveland Watkiss provide the foundation for an improvisatory collaboration with visual artists, dancers and poets and will immerse us visually and sonically.
Singer Heidi Vogel, such a larger than life personality, and last seen at the club with the W and on Valentine’s night, returns with her own quartet for what will certainly be a joyful night of Cuban and Brazilian music on Wednesday. The rest of the band is a killer, with Will Barry on piano and Empirical’s rhythm section of Tom Farmer and Shane Forbes.
On Thursday we welcome back Tom Ridout. A saxophonist of great imagination who has a twinkle in his eye. And always with at least one tune on recorder!
And slipped into this mix are three jam sessions, two downstairs on Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening, and our great upstairs one on Sunday, which, with the core of a great house quartet, this week led by Jas Kayser, is possibly the bargain of the week at just £5. We can, without excessive trumpet-blowing, claim that this is now London’s go-to session.
And finally, for this week, a reminder that we are able to keep our prices so attractive and be regarded as one of the world’s leading jazz clubs by Downbeat magazine is partly because of our volunteers, running the bar every night. But we always need more! Do join our community (Details on the website) and see you soon!