World Music Big Band featuring Ian Bumstead
We welcome back the World Music Big Band lead by Ian Bumstead on Tenor sax and featuring Alison Rayner on Bass and Mark Huggett on drums.
Wed 14 December 2022
Tue 13 December 2022
John Bennett Band
The John Bennett Band (15 piece jazz ensemble) returns to the Vortex for their first gig since the pandemic.
Vortex discussion 122 – Getting heard
How do we our ideas across musically? Is performing well good enough or is more required? Perhaps descriptions or more. Perhaps visuals. Good marketing. Or alternatives Join the weekly online…
Sun 11 December 2022
Vortex Jam Session with Rick Simpson
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 Jazz Orchestra
Featured players this month include trumpets Noel Langley and Henry Lowther, saxes Martin Speake and Pete Hurt, Alcyona Mick on piano, and Nick Costley-White on guitar. Come check out these up-close and personal sessions from London’s longest-residing jazz orchestra!
Sat 10 December 2022
Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories with Ineza
In Women’s Words, Sisters Stories, vocalist Ineza and the Alex Webb Trio explore the repertoire penned by the great female songstresses including Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, Betty Carter and Abbey Lincoln.
A Standard Afternoon
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…
Jason Yarde Recovery Benefit Fund
A bombastic free-way simultaneous improvisation relay across Cafe OTO, Servant Jazz Quarters and the Vortex. Featuring 40+ improvising musicians performing and moving between the 3 venues.
Fri 09 December 2022
Maddalena Ghezzi / Francesca Naibo + Bruno Heinen / Maria Chiara Argirò
A double bill featuring two fantastic duos: Maddalena Ghezzi (voice) and Francesca Naibo (guitar and voice) + Bruno Heinen and Maria Chiara Argirò (piano)
Azalea Arts – Christmas Variety Night (Downstairs)
Leading to Christmas Azalea Arts presents a mixed media variety show at the multi award winning Vortex Jazz Club on Friday the 9th of December. The evening will be filled…
Thu 08 December 2022
Let Spin
Let Spin are a cutting edge post-jazz quartet comprised of players at the forefront of the vibrant UK contemporary music scene feat. Moss Freed (guitar, baritone guitar), Chris Williams (alto sax), Ruth Goller (bass) and Finlay Panter (drums).
Wed 07 December 2022
Nat Catchpole / John Edwards / Mark Sanders
Blistering free jazz from stalwarts of the London free-improvisation scene. First outing for a new trio from musicians who have been playing together in different configurations for over 20 years.
Tue 06 December 2022
Midweek Downstairs Jam
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.
Vortex discussion 121 – Competition vs collaboration
Jazz and improvised music has been many competitive elements, often clearly shown in jam sessions. Also, in how musicians may try to ‘get ahead’? But can this be contrasted with…
Sun 04 December 2022
Vortex Jam Session with Riley Stone-Lonergan
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.
Sat 03 December 2022
Simon Purcell’s Red Circle
Red Circle features some of the most important contributors to the UK’s creative music scene during the last three decades. They’re also a bunch of old friends with years of playing experience. Simon Purcell, Chris Batchelor, Julian Siegel, Steve Watts and Gene Calderazzo.
Fri 02 December 2022
Maddy Coombs Quartet
Young up-and-coming tenor saxophonist from Northampton Maddy Coombs returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring Sultan Stevenson (piano), Hamish Nockles-Moore (bass) & Jordan Hadfield (drums)
Thu 01 December 2022
Tori Freestone Trio
Tori Freestone returns to the Vortex with her much in demand long time colleagues Tim Giles (drums) and Dave Manington (bass).
Wed 30 November 2022
Miles Mindlin Quartet
21-year-old jazz guitarist Miles Mindlin returns to the Vortex with his quartet featuring Noah Stoneman (piano), Freddie Jensen (bass) and James Maddren (drums).
Tue 29 November 2022
Kevin Hays and Lily Lyons
Join these two artists for a night of original songs performed solo and duo.
Vortex discussion 120. Disruption
The current world we’re in celebrates “disruption” as a badge of merit. It’s treated as a positive to be rewarded, eg Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. But isn’t jazz something…
Sun 27 November 2022
Vortex Jam Session with Rachael Cohen, Will Lyle & Kai McRae
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.
Mopomoso Live / November
This month’s Mopomoso will feature: Hard Edges – Chris Dowding (trumpet), Ben Higham (tuba/trumpet) & Dave Amis (trombone) + Colin Webster (saxophone) + ARC – Sylvia Hallett (violin/electronics), Danny Kingshill (cello) & Gus Garside (double bass/electronics)
Sat 26 November 2022
Henry Lowther’s Still Waters
The return of legendary British trumpet player Henry Lowther and his ‘Still Waters’ band feat. Pete Hurt (tenor saxophone), Barry Green (piano), Dave Green (double bass) and Paul Clarvis (drums).
A Standard Afternoon
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…
Fri 25 November 2022
Tom Ollendorff Trio + Ben Wendel (2nd show)
This November Tom Ollendorff Trio will be collaborating with one of the modern greats of the saxophone, Ben Wendel, for an unmissable and highly anticipated run of UK dates.
Tom Ollendorff Trio + Ben Wendel (1st show)
This November Tom Ollendorff Trio will be collaborating with one of the modern greats of the saxophone, Ben Wendel, for an unmissable and highly anticipated run of UK dates.
Thu 24 November 2022
KJETIL MØSTER, JOHN EDWARDS, DAG ERIK KNEDAL ANDERSEN
The sax bass drums trio of Kjetil Møster, John Edwards and Dag Erik Knedal Andersen is a UK/Norwegian free improvising group that has toured extensively in Norway. They are playing three dates in the UK for the very first time, a short tour that culminates in this Vortex date.
Wed 23 November 2022
Jessica Bullen Quintet
After sold out shows at Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho and Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club, up and coming jazz saxophonist and composer Jessica Bullen is making her Vortex debut this November with a quintet featuring Jacky Naylor, Billy Marrows, Pete Komor and Olly Sarkar.
Tue 22 November 2022
Midweek Downstairs Jam
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.
Sun 20 November 2022
Led Bib + Anthropods
For this year’s London Jazz Festival, Mark Holub presents two of his projects: Anthropods – a new band featuring some of the most highly acclaimed players from the Viennese jazz and improvised music scenes & Led Bib (familiar to many Vortex regulars) returning to the club with a brand new set of music.
Sat 19 November 2022
Vortex Jam Session Hosted by Rick Simpson [Late Night]
Join us for a special series of Late Night Jam sessions which will briefly replace our regular Sunday sessions, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan.
Black Top – Orphy Robinson/Pat Thomas with special guest Mariam Rezaei
Black Top comprises the duo of Award winning Virtuoso musicians Orphy Robinson and Pat Thomas. Black Top’s blend of lo-fi samples, dub effects and experimental electronics has been one of the leading groups in free improvisation on the International scene since 2012.
Fri 18 November 2022
Julie Campiche Quartet
This quartet composed of Swiss musicians led by harpist Julie Campiche of the new generation proposes a music where the electronic effects of each instrument are intertwined in delicate yet powerful acoustic space, balancing structured passages with open improvisations.
Thu 17 November 2022
The Olie Brice Octet
Featuring eight of the most exciting improvisers around, the Octet plays Brice’s original compositions, combining fiery free jazz, dense counterpoint, beautiful melodies and crunchy textures.
Wed 16 November 2022
Vortex Jam Session Hosted by Riley Stone-Lonergan [Late Night]
Join us for a special series of Late Night Jam sessions which will briefly replace our regular Sunday sessions, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan.
Trio Grande 2.0
Trio Grande 2.0 Is a collaborative multi-national trio with UK saxophonist Will Vinson, Israeli guitarist Gilad Hekselman and US drummer Nate Wood.
Tue 15 November 2022
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration (Night 2 – 2nd Show)
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration with the Trinity Laban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Mike Gibbs & Josephine Davies.
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration (Night 2 – 1st Show)
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration with the Trinity Laban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Mike Gibbs & Josephine Davies.
Vortex discussion 120 – ‘Tradition versus the new’
What is ‘new’ in jazz and what is part of the ‘tradition’? Is the latter word an insult and to be ignored? And yet, much of the new jazz nowadays…
Mon 14 November 2022
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration (Night 1 – 2nd Show)
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration with the Trinity Laban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Mike Gibbs & Josephine Davies.
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration (Night 1 – 1st Show)
Mike Gibbs 85th birthday celebration with the Trinity Laban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Mike Gibbs & Josephine Davies.
Sun 13 November 2022
THE SHAPE OF JAZZ TO COME PRESENTS: LEON FOSTER-THOMAS QUARTET
TSOJTC is delighted to present the Leon Foster-Thomas Quartet. LFT is winner of the World Steelband Music Festival’s Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004, critics laud him as “the next big thing on his instrument”, “…an enthralling improvisor…” All About Jazz; “…masterful with impeccable musicianship” – When Steel Talks. Tonight he performs for the first time at the Vortex with his London quartet as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.
London Jazz Orchestra
Vocalist Brigitte Beraha joins the London Jazz Orchestra and director Scott Stroman for two sizzling sets of modern big band music as part of the 2022 EFG London Jazz Festival.
Sat 12 November 2022
Small Print (Norma Winstone / Nikki Iles / Mark Lockheart)
Named after the incredible British super-group ‘The Printmakers’ and featuring many of its core members.
A Standard Afternoon
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…
Fri 11 November 2022
Vortex Jam Session with Helena Kay [Late Night]
Join us for a special series of Late Night Jam sessions which will briefly replace our regular Sunday sessions, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan.
Calum Gourlay Big Band w/ special guest Olivia Murphy
A special performance from the Calum Gourlay Big Band – featuring performances to celebrating the life and career of Charles Mingus in his centennial year and music from rising star, saxophonist and composer Olivia Murphy.
Thu 10 November 2022
Marshall / Rochford / Batchelor
The paths of three musical giants converge for one night only, in what promises to be a show of London’s finest Jazz and groove improvisation.
Book Launch: Laurie Evans “Derry Boys”
Long-time night manager at the Vortex Laurie Evans celebrates the release of their new book ‘Derry Boys’ – join us to hear from the author, grab copies of the new book and listen to special performances from two members of the Undertones.