ECM pianist and composer Kit Downes and long term collaborator and drummer James Maddren will team up with the arcane abilities of bass wizard Conor Chaplin – revisiting old tunes of Kit’s from his records ‘Golden’, ‘Quiet Tiger’ and ‘Light from Old Stars’, as well as a few new compositions and choice covers. 

ECM pianist and composer Kit Downes and long term collaborator and drummer James Maddren will team up with the arcane abilities of bass wizard Conor Chaplin – revisiting old tunes of Kit’s from his records ‘Golden’, ‘Quiet Tiger’ and ‘Light from Old Stars’, as well as a few new compositions and choice covers. 

Rachael Cohen returns to the Vortex with her international trio featuring Joe Downard on double bass and New York drummer Jason Brown.

Rachael Cohen returns to the Vortex with her international trio featuring Joe Downard on double bass and New York drummer Jason Brown.

This brand new lineup promises the highest quality music from some of the best jazz musicians around who are firmly rooted in the tradition whilst aiming to push themselves creatively.

This brand new lineup promises the highest quality music from some of the best jazz musicians around who are firmly rooted in the tradition whilst aiming to push themselves creatively.

THIS SHOW HAS SOLD OUT Line-up: Tori Freestone – saxophone Alcyona Mick – piano   About Tori and Alcyona formed their duo in 2015 after being invited to perform together…

Line-up: Tori Freestone – saxophone Alcyona Mick – piano   About Tori and Alcyona formed their duo in 2015 after being invited to perform together at the Manchester Jazz Festival.…

Noah Stoneman is a 20-year-old pianist and with his own trio you can expect a range of hard-hitting original compositions and an intense, immediate sense of improvisation across the group.

Noah Stoneman is a 20-year-old pianist and with his own trio you can expect a range of hard-hitting original compositions and an intense, immediate sense of improvisation across the group.

Tom Ollendorff is fast becoming one of the best known jazz guitarists in the UK. He has performed with artists including Bill McHenry, Ari Hoenig and Jeff Williams, Geoff Simkins and Huw Warren.

Tom Ollendorff is fast becoming one of the best known jazz guitarists in the UK. He has performed with artists including Bill McHenry, Ari Hoenig and Jeff Williams, Geoff Simkins and Huw Warren.

LINE-UP: Hannes Riepler – Guitar Tom Challenger – Saxophone Tom Herbert – Bass James Maddren – Drums ABOUT Hannes Riepler has made a great name for himself with a melodic,…

LINE-UP: Hannes Riepler – Guitar Tom Challenger – Saxophone Tom Herbert – Bass James Maddren – Drums ABOUT Hannes Riepler has made a great name for himself with a melodic,…

Line-up: Brigitte Beraha – Vocals, Electronics George Crowley – Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Electronics Alcyona Mick – Piano, Synths Tim Giles – Drums, Electronics About Brigitte Beraha’s early incarnation of ‘Lucid…

Line-up: Brigitte Beraha – Vocals, Electronics George Crowley – Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Electronics Alcyona Mick – Piano, Synths Tim Giles – Drums, Electronics About Brigitte Beraha’s early incarnation of ‘Lucid…

This week we consider the subject of public art and public music. What is its rationale? Does it get proper recognition for artists and musicians? Or do they just get…

This week’s discussion looks at the concept of chaos leading to order through creativity. “In all chaos there is an order, in all disorder a secret order.” (Jung) Is using…

An informal chat considering how some things have gone but others found over the past year. In terms of music, attitudes and more.

Venues like the Vortex hope to reopen in May. Will the demand for ‘human’ attendance at real gigs actually outstrip the number available? Will the number of live events actually…

“I’d like to point out to people the divine in a musical language that transcends words. I want to speak to their souls.” (John Coltrane) Can music not just speak…

The regular Vortex discussion this week looks at what it takes for an artist to create an identity. Open to all, it’s an open and informal salon of conversation.

  The Vortex discussions have now been running weekly for almost a year. For today’s, we look at how jazz musicians are often considered.  The music, and their practitioners are…

For this week’s discussion, led by Vortex director Oliver Weindling, we look to the – hopefully – near future when we emerge from the lockdowns and more. Mopomoso moving to…

Does one make luck in music and improvisation? Or is it a matter of skill? How does one respond to the unpredictable, which is perhaps one of the bedrocks of…