A new line-up from three key figures from London’s alternative jazz and improv scene – celebrating the shadowy spaces between spontaneous composition and written material with an electronically-augmented sound-world which ventures far beyond their chosen instruments. Deep, immersive vibrations!

Jazz drummer Will Cleasby brings his trio to the Vortex feat. pianist Will Barry and bassist Will Sach.

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.

London’s longest jazz residency continues as superb tenor saxophonist Josephine Davies, member of the LJO for over 10 years, returns as featured composer and soloist. Vocalist Brigitte Beraha is also present to sing pieces by Davies, pianist Alcyona Mick, Tori Freestone (Davies’ successor), and director Scott Stroman.

A rip-roaring musical ride through Eastern Europe and beyond – from plaintive Gypsy ballads to tub-thumping Romanian dance tunes, with a smattering of tango, Hot Club and klezmer – all shot through with searing jazz improvisation.

Celebrating the launch of their debut EP ‘Thresholds,’ the duo are taking over the Vortex as we host a live electronic music set for the first time – join us for a special late night show that is not to be missed.

A special triple bill celebrating International Women’s Day. Expect original songs, musical explorations & improvisation, chamber arrangements and some brand new collaborations.

Tara’s performance tonight will be a celebration of free improvisation joined by esteemed fellow musicians Caius Williams (bass/electronics) and Will Glaser (drums).

A contemporary take on classic Jazz quartet co-composed by Jamil Sheriff and Nel Begley. Find yourself immersed in synthesised soundscapes, electronic improvisation & spoken word, exploring themes of power, class and control with a humorously bold and energetic voice.

What does he need to do to make an impact with improvised music? Great technique, emotion or something else? And if the aim is to make it more ‘lasting’ what…

Tonight, saxophonist Vittorio Mura takes over our Sunday Jam with a stellar house band featuring Olly Chalk (piano), Calum Gourlay (double bass) & Gwilym Jones (drums).

The first joint outing of British saxophonists Matthew and Stan Sulzmann, this new group was formed in 2022 to celebrate their musical bond. With a focus on creativity and virtuosic improvisation, the group explores some of the pair’s favourite music spanning original compositions and selections from the tradition.

A new venture for award winning pianist Bruno Heinen, here playing vibraphone, and leading a quartet of some of London’s most exciting young musicians.

Acclaimed as composers as well as instrumentalists, sharing multiple awards and seven albums as leaders between them, Hitchcock and Law have created a startlingly vivid and mature soundworld, in their new album Same Moon in the Same World.

Ferdinando Romano is a doublebass player, composer and improviser. His reputation has increasingly grown since he was awarded in the Top Jazz 2020 (Musica Jazz’s annual Critics Poll) as “Best Italian Rising Star”.

Duncan Eagles a London-based saxophonist who performs regularly at venues and festivals all over the world.
Described by BBC Radio as a “rising star of British Jazz” Duncan is attracting attention for his distinctive sound and virtuosic improvising.

How do we hear about music nowadays? The famous quote, allegedly by Frank Zappa, is that ‘writing about music is like dancing to architecture’. With less attention to the written word,…

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.

An imaginative reworking of a range of Duke Ellington’s iconic compositions, from the early Cotton Club blues material to Swing hits and through to the exotica that was inspired by Ellington’s extensive travels.

Brigitte Beraha and Barry Green have a musical relationship that stretches almost twenty years. Tonight they explore new music and standards with the great saxophonist Alan Barnes.

Basil Hodge brings is popular quartet to The Vortex. The band will play Basil’s compositions from his critically acclaimed album ” A Point of Reference plus songs from his impressive back catalogue.

Tonight will feature the music from Tori’s recent trio release with Dave Manington & Tim Giles as well as fresh compositions composed during the lockdown for the upcoming co led duo with Alcyona Mick.

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), Mutale Chashi, (bass) & Ben Brown (drums).

Joy Ellis is a jazz pianist, singer and composer based in London and an alumni of Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Steinway Artist and BBC Jazz Award winner Richard Fairhurst brings his trio to the Vortex featuring the propulsive bass work of Dave Whitford and brilliant drummer Tim Giles. Their music combines both cerebral and lyrical improvisation full of emotion with high-energy grooves.

As part of their UK tour, the Aidan Pope Trio comes to The Vortex to play their new record ‘Standard State’. Expect a mixture of originals, jazz standards and favourite tunes of the young guitarist who aims to alter the state of these pieces, finding new material within.

Expect a soulful mix of jazz, Brazilian and blues standards made famous by Betty Carter, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Jobim and more.

There’s nothing new under the sun. How necessary is originality for a person to be heard and be creative? Indeed, with AI now mimicking everything, maybe it’s becoming an impossible…

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist, composer, and singer/songwriter Kevin Hays’s many recordings have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Times, as well as the “Coup de Coeur” award from the Académie Charles Cros (France). Lily Lyons is a singer and songwriter based in London brought up on Latin American music, big band, soul and folk.

More info coming soon

Three of the most exciting improvisers in the country, in an ongoing trio that ranges from fiery, propulsive free jazz to the most detailed explorations of sound and texture.

From the Shetland Islands, via the ‘City of Edinburgh Music School’ and Birmingham Conservatoire, Rachael Cohen now finds herself amongst the top players on London’s vibrant Jazz scene and one the leading voices of her generation.

This special concert is a rare insight into the very first stages of an ambitious new 12-piece musical project by Mark. Featuring Nathaniel Facey, James Allsopp, George Crowley, Rowland Sutherland, Laura Jurd, John Parricelli, Tom Herbert, Dave Smith, Jim Rattigan, Mike Soper, Harry Maund and Anna Drysdale.

Kristian Borring, Danish jazz guitarist and composer, has been praised for his sense of tasteful melody and colorful harmony delivered in a cool playground of rhythm.

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.

Four improvisers dedicated to the whole history of Jazz come together to explore their original compositions and free playing.