This is a new project which sees the original quartet of like-minded friends, Family Band, expanded to a seven piece band. The band takes as its starting point the music of those musicians who, back in the 1960s, were at the forefront of the free jazz revolution, but whose opening up of jazz’s constraints is now recognised as not a break from the past but an integral part of the music’s development.
24-year-old, London based trumpeter & composer Grifton Forbes-Amos brings his quintet to the Vortex for the very first time to perform some original compositions.
Maddalena Ghezzi and Maria Chiara Argirò will present Emerald, a sci-fi feminist EP by Maddalena and part of her series “Minerals” with live sound manipulation by Anything Pointless.
Join us for a very special evening featuring three of London’s finest musicians in trio together for the first time.
Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Lulu Pierre is a startling new arrival on the London jazz vocal scene, who has proved herself to be a classic Torch Song stylist in the tradition of Julie London.
Come down for a drink downstairs with performances from a rotating group of London-based singers and instrumentalists. Arrive early if you’d also like to join in for when the sets open to the floor – all welcome!
The return of the mistressful Carol Grimes, one of our favourite vocalists, with a band featuring Deirdre Cartwright (guitar), Alison Rayner (bass) & Steve Lodder (piano).
Alongside his internationally acclaimed jazz flute playing Eddie is a superlative pianist and keyboard player (“my Dad started me on piano when I was 4”, he says), and the band is also a vehicle for this hitherto largely unknown side.
Francisco Garcia de Paredes is a jazz guitarist and composer from North London and a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Tomorrow’s Warriors jazz programme. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of artists including Gretchen Parlato, Aaron Parks, Jim Hall, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Francisco strives to weave these influences into his music, shaping his unique compositional voice.
Jay Davis’s BadTrad features four of the most exciting improvising voices from the UK Jazz scene. Compositions include pieces using melodies overheard being hummed by strangers in the street, a robotic construction from a laptop and a three year olds’ piano improvisation.
This October, guitarist Tom Ollendorff is touring with his quartet featuring the legendary saxophonist Tim Garland to celebrate the release of his critically acclaimed latest album ‘Open House’.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
During his 10-year tenure with the LJO, Stuart Hall produced a wealth of great (and witty) compositions and arrangements for the band, often featuring singer Brigitte Beraha – they return for a joyous celebration of his music alongside great new music written by the band’s members.
Acclaimed trumpeter / composer Laura Jurd paves the way for the spirited improvisations of UK free jazz icon, Paul Dunmall and his quartet – fuelled by a dream-team, brass quintet.
Olli Soikkeli was born in Nurmes, Finland in 1991. He started playing guitar at age of 12. After a few years of playing Olli was introduced to the music of the great Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz has been Ollis main focus ever since. Soon Olli was playing in jazz clubs and festivals all around Finland with the top musicians from Finland. After touring all around Europe with musicians such as Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud Van Den Berg Olli decided to move to New York City in 2014.
Shrike Records are pleased to host a special double-header at the Vortex, showcasing some of London’s finest improvising musicians, and presenting two recent releases from this new label.
Guitarist Joseph Leighton has been hailed as one of Ireland’s brightest new jazz talents. This new trio features two legends of the UK jazz scene Oli Hayhurst (Pharoah Sanders, Kirk Lightsey) and Jay Davis (Alex Hitchcock & ‘BadTrad’).
This is the first of the new Whirlpool series, encouraging new music from the newest cohort of London musicians. Six curators, recent graduates, will programme the nights to encourage the creation of new connections, both professional and musical. Each gig will involve musicians from across graduates of the three main London colleges: Royal Academy Of Music, Guildhall School of Music And Drama & Trinity Laban.
Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set.
The 6/8 Club celebrates 50 years of Hip Hop with Dynamax Roberts.
Saxophonist Julian Siegel returns to the Vortex with his quartet featuring Liam Noble (piano), Oli Hayhurst (double bass) & Gene Calderazzo (drums).
Come down for a drink downstairs with performances from a rotating group of London-based singers and instrumentalists. Arrive early if you’d also like to join in for when the sets open to the floor – all welcome!
Bassist and composer Dave Manington is one of the mainstays of the London jazz scene, a founder member of the Loop Collective, he has played with many of the pre-eminent jazz musicians in the UK and Europe including Julian Arguelles, Marius Neset and Gwilym Simcock amongst many others.
Samba Azul is a chameleon collective of London-based musicians with a shared passion for Brazilian music that has been together for over 10 years. Tonight they return to the Vortex with a special horn section featuring Leo Richardson (tenor sax), Miguel Gorodi (trumpet) & Olli Martin (trombone).
First London concert for over 10 years for Larry Stabbins, whose 50+ year career across the spectrum of music has included long spells in the bands of Keith Tippet, Peter Brotzmann and Tony Oxley as well as cult pop group Weekend, co-leading Latin Soul jazz band Working Week and his own projects as Stonephace.,
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Come & join us for another delightful Mopomoso featuring performances from: Alan Tomlinson + Steve Beresford; Viv Corringham + Lawrence Casserley + Yoko Miura; mcddavid + Yoko Miura & Un coup d’Ariel by mToo (Mopomoso TV Organisers Orchestra)
Sam Newbould Quintet is an award winning five piece international line-up hailing from the UK, Spain, Israel and the Netherlands. Based in Amsterdam, the quintet won the prestigious Keep an Eye Records in 2019. The band appear at the Vortex tonight as part of their UK-wide tour, premiering new music for their third studio album to be released in 2024.
A UK jazz super group, Out Front formed to play the music of two of Jazz’s greatest ‘inside-outside’ masters: Booker Little and Andrew Hill.
Artist, tattooist & musician Loz KeyStone and drummer Harry Pope present Surrender – an improvised duet for amplified tattoo machine and drums.
“A trio of masters here, with every note and sequence a new discovery” – Chris Searle Morning Star
Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Alex Hitchcock is an immediately distinctive improviser and a leading voice on the saxophone in the UK. An Ivor Novello-nominated composer, is innovative collaborations have confirmed his growing international reputation as an instigator and catalyst for captivating musical encounters that ‘continually push the envelope a little further’ (Jazzmania BE).
Come down for a drink downstairs with performances from a rotating group of London-based singers and instrumentalists. Arrive early if you’d also like to join in for when the sets open to the floor – all welcome!
An evening of new songs from Matthew Herd (Seafarers), Sam Griffiths (The Howl & The Hum), and Elanor Moss.
Renowned for her exceptional scat singing skills which include her ability to seamlessly blend intricate vocal improvisations with the bebop style. Her impeccable sense of timing, creative phrasing and playfulness contribute to her captivating performances.
Following on from their debut performance earlier this year, Ayo Vincent leads his trio through a program of original compositions. Expect high energy twists, turns and exploration.
Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
The LJO, stronger than ever, returns for its 33rd season at the Vortex featuring a new “Crazy Suite” – a fun collaboration between director Scott Stroman, pianist Alcyona Mick, sax Martin Hathaway and trumpet Andre Canniere – created during the band’s artist-in-residency at Morley College.
Dreamers is the newest project from saxophonist and composer Mark Lockheart and explores Mark’s multi-faceted outlook on music through a new set of original compositions with this bold and unique sounding group.
At the rhythmic epicentre of a new era of innovative British jazz is Corrie Dick. Tonight, he will perform music from his latest album “Sun Swells” with a band featuring: Rebecka Edlund, Rob Luft, Laura Jurd & Caius Williams.
A few months after the release of her new EP, ‘ELA’, the UK-based Franco-Cameroonian singer-songwriter comes to the Vortex with a prestigious quintet including some of the UK’s best jazz and gospel musicians.
Milena Granci is a pianist of French and Italian descent. After moving to London to complete a Master degree at The Guildhall School of Music, she is now slowly taking part in the music scene, collaborating with other musicians as well as composing and leading her own band.
Sam Braysher’s new project explores the work of Kurt Weill, a fascinating composer who lies at the intersection of European classical music, jazz, opera and American musical theatre.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Saxophonist Jean Toussaint presents a special edition of his quartet JT4 feat. Emile Hinton (piano), Murray Dare (bass) & Ben Brown (drums).