To adapt TS Eliot: “February is the cruellest month.” This month is certainly living up – or is it down – to it. No Spring yet here, damp, grey, with little optimism in terms of the political and social world around us. But we have a helluva week ahead here at the Vortex, more energetic and diverse than ever. So that it’ll help see us through to the beginning of Spring in March!
Heidi Vogel, for Valentine’s Day, starts a busy weekend ahead. She’s followed, late, by Ed Begley for our Dalston Song Club. He’s about to appear singing the music of Thom Yorke and Radiohead for the RSC in Manchester and Stratford.
Then there are seven events/gigs on Saturday and Sunday alone. On Saturday evening David Austin Grey headlines upstairs, returning with his band Hologram Maze. Before that, there’s the Anatolian jazz duo of Bahar Aksu & Paşa Çelik; and then our late night is the gorgeous piano of Alcyona Mick, perhaps our most underrated genius?
Meanwhile on Sunday, we have a CD fair, with sales to help the club, followed by a specially curated early evening exploring wine and jazz. The wine is curated by Tutto Wines, bringing an interesting selection of organic wines from France and Italy, with appropriate music from Will Barry.
This is a foretaste of the rest of the week, which includes big band with Tom Niblock (19), the improvisation and groove of Dreamscapes (20) and climaxing, on 22, with bassist Gary Crosby interpreting Charles Mingus – one of our London legends connecting with a true great of jazz.
Remember, that, if you become a member for just £10 a month, you get discounts on all gigs and seats reserved. That’ll be something to value with such gigs in the next week alone. The discounts next week alone could easily pay that off, and of course, also help the club.
Just announced for 4 April! Soft Machine. A celebration of guitarist John Etheridge’s 50 years with the band. Tickets already selling fast.
14 Valentine’s Day with Heidi Vogel (Two shows) LAST TICKETS
Jazz is perfect for Valentine’s Day. It can resonate with romantic emotions and is deeply expressive. And who better for such a night than Heidi Vogel?
14 (Downstairs Late) Dalston Song Club with Ed Begley
Matthew Herd’s Dalston Song Club is special tonight, as Ed Begley will have a major role in the forthcoming RSC Hamlet Hail to the Thief production in Manchester, taking the actual role inspired by Thom Yorke.
15 (Downstairs early) Bahar Aksu & Paşa Çelik Duo
A remarkable duo kicks off our weekend, which crosses the rich traditions of Anatolian music with the creativity of jazz and improvisation.
15 A Hologram Maze
Really pleasing to have the return of pianist David Austin Grey’s open-hearted quartet. “A band with crazy telepathy who really enjoy the music.” (Mr Scruff)
15 (Downstairs Late) Alcyona Mick
Alcyona brings a great sensitivity and beauty to her piano playing. With a stellar band of Calum Gourlay and Paul Clarvis.
16 (Afternoon upstairs) Mopomoso
Our monthly improvised music mini-festival continues with a mouth-watering lineup including Colin Webster, Mia Zabelka and Charlotte Keeffe
16 (Afternoon Downstairs) Record/CD fair
From 2 p.m. we are happy to host a record/CD fair. Based on a collection of over 2000 rare CDs donated to the club, much of the music unavailable on the streaming services. ALL PROCEEDS TO HELP THE VORTEX. And every album that you buy will also give reductions to the Jazz and Wine tasting which follows. Here is a link to the collection: Better Jon RB CD.xlsx
16 (Early evening Downstairs) Jazz and Wine – Will Barry meets Tutto Wines
Our latest evening of organic wines from Italy and France, paired with great jazz. 4 wines with appropriate musical selections by pianist Will Barry. The selection has been put together by Liv Kessler, a former volunteer now at Noble Rot, and Damiano from Tutto, a great importer.
16 (Evening Upstairs) Vortex Jam Session
To end this busy day we have London’s best jam session with stunning trumpeter Sean Gibbs. Free for members and musicians. For others, just £5.
19 Tom Niblock Big Band
To luxuriate in the sounds of the big band, especially if in the hands of Tom Niblock and some of London’s finest, is unmissable. Tom builds on the new trailblazers such as John Hollenbeck and Maria Schneider, without forgetting past greats such as Ellington.
20 (Downstairs early) Maddy Coombs
Joining the ranks of the young saxophonists to watch (and hear!), Maddy also has a great band to help her compositions grow and develop, with the likes of Finn Carter and Menelik Claffey in her band
20 Dreamscapes
The name says it all! The band transcends the simple genres to bring together the likes rock, ambient landscapes, Brazilian spirit. They’re all there! “A journey through dreams, exploring textures and moods with ease.” (UK Jazz News)
21 Dunajska Kapelye
As close to being our resident Balkan/klezmer/Hot Club jazz group as one can get. Led by the charismatic violinist Piotr Jordan, it’s upbeat, joyous and virtuosic.
22 Future Standards and Downstairs Jam
This is as good and relaxed a way as any to learn about what might be the standards of the 21st century. Come for a drink or bring your instrument. It’s all free.
22 The Gary Crosby Sextet Presents “Mingus Moves”
Bassist Gary Crosby OBE, winner of the Queen’s Medal for Music, is the influential band leader and founder of Tomorrow’s Warriors. So it’s wholly appropriate that he brings us a reinterpretation of the iconic bassist Charles Mingus’s last great album, also one of Gary’s favourites.
23 (Late Downstairs) Kezia Abuoma
One of the recent alumni of Tomorrow’s Warriors, pianist Kezia is one to watch. She has already made an impact at the Vortex working with Michael Formanek and playing the music of Ornette Coleman with Calum Gourlay.
23 (Downstairs early) MOJO Big Band plays Pat Metheny
Shining a spotlight on the compositions of legendary guitarist Metheny in stunning arrangements by Bob Curnow.