Vortex discussion 42 – Streaming: where is it going?
This week’s discussion, hosted by Vortex director Oliver Weindling, looks at how streaming may evolve over the next few years. Already progressed a long way even from the beginnings of…
Wed 17 February 2021
Thu 11 February 2021
Words and Art with Nicki Heinen: Amy Acre with live art by Aurelie Freoua
Nicki Heinen hosts her monthly Words & Art event online. Special guest is Amy Acre. Aurelie Freoua illustrates the performance. Amy Acre is the author of And They Are Covered…
Wed 10 February 2021
Vortex discussion 41 – Taking the risk!
When jazz and improvising musicians go on stage, they are taking tremendous risks in the creation of the music for the audience. The compositions are instant and not fully planned!…
Mon 08 February 2021
Freedom – The Art of Improvisation
Freedom has moved online for the past year. Each month, a new show is curated by Orphy Robinson MBE, Cleveland Watkiss MBE and Tori Handsley. Tracks intervening chosen by Paul…
Thu 04 February 2021
Blow the fuse ‘on air’: Martha & Eve + DaDa Dandies
Blow the Fuse ‘On Air’ is a series of exclusively recorded online concerts from the Vortex Jazz Club in London.
Wed 03 February 2021
Vortex discussion 40 – Sanity, sanity, all (music) is sanity
An open discussion on how music helps sanity and how therefore the creators/musicians also need to be kept sane!
Wed 27 January 2021
VORTEX DISCUSSION 39 – BREXIT: WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
This week’s discussion looks at the topic of Brexit. Not just that it is becoming harder to travel to and from EU to play for musicians, but the costs will…
Thu 21 January 2021
Blow the fuse ‘on air’ – The Guest Stars (1985)
Tonight, Blow the Fuse brings us back to 1985! This film was recorded one night at the Kings Head theatre on Upper Street Islington. It features interviews with all members…
Wed 20 January 2021
Vortex discussion 38 – Jazz musicians as “disruptors”
Hosted by Oliver Weindling, director at the Vortex, this open discussion this week focuses on “disruptors” – people who shake up the system with a view to change. Negative or…
Wed 13 January 2021
Vortex discussion 37 – Words and jazz
This week’s discussion, led by Vortex director Oliver Weindling, discusses the link between words and jazz. The link to music of words have been so great over the years, from…
Thu 07 January 2021
Blow the fuse ‘on air’ feat. Annie Whitehead
Blow the Fuse ‘On Air’ is a series of online concerts from the Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston. This week show features Annie Whitehead, trombone virtuoso best known for her engaging mix of African grooves, blues, ska and Ellingtonian expressionism.
Wed 06 January 2021
Vortex discussion 36 – “Reasons to be cheerful?” What might they be?
This week’s discussion is about what there might be, in these difficult times, to look forward to – what have we learned and what not.
Sun 20 December 2020
Rough Takes: Olly Chalk
Rough Takes is a series about giving artists the space to experiment and take risks and to open the door to the creative process for audiences. We give an artist the space for a day and a performance at the end of it – what they choose to do and who they choose to work with is up to them.
Sat 19 December 2020
[Cancelled] The Steve Williamson Trio feat. Camille Rose
With the London area moving into Tier 3 from Wednesday 16th December, we unfortunately have to close our doors to audience members again. All ticket holders for this weekend gigs…
Fri 18 December 2020
[Cancelled] Jas and Chums
With the London area moving into Tier 3 from Wednesday 16th December, we unfortunately have to close our doors to audience members again. All ticket holders for this weekend gigs…
Thu 17 December 2020
Blow the fuse ‘on air’ feat. Liane Carroll
Blow the Fuse ‘On Air’ is a series of exclusively recorded online weekly concerts from the Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston. This week features Liane Carroll in concert and conversation.…
Wed 16 December 2020
Vortex weekly discussion 35 – Jazz and art. Jazz before art or art before jazz?
Jazz and art. Jazz before art or art before jazz? Today’s weekly discussion focuses on the relation of art and jazz/improvisation over the years, which goes way beyond just album…
Tue 15 December 2020
Alexandra Ridout Trio feat. Joey Cuerri – Replay
Line-up: Alexandra Ridout – Trumpet Luca Caruso – Drums Freddie Jensen – Bass Featuring – Joey Curreri – Trumpet Thanks for everyone who turned out to see Alexandra Ridout Trio with Luca…
Mon 14 December 2020
Vortex Live from Sands Studios – Phelan Burgoyne Trio
Phelan Burgoyne Trio play Paul Motian’s Lost in a Dream live from Sands Studios.
Sun 13 December 2020
BLOW THE FUSE ON AIR presents Deirdre Cartwright in concert and conversation
Catch-up with Blow the Fuse on Air #2 premiered on Thursday 10th December
Sat 12 December 2020
Tori Freestone Duo Feat. Brigitte Beraha – Live stream from Up&Down Festival
We are very pleased to be collaborating with Up&Down Festival in the Canary Islands this weekend to broadcast a livestream performance from Tori freestone, Alcyona Mick and Brigitte Beraha. Tune in…
Sara Dowling
Line-up: Sara Dowling – voice Liam Dunachie – piano Dario Di Lecce – bass Steve Brown – drums Sara Dowling is a jazz singer who is deeply inspired by the…
Fri 11 December 2020
Alexandra Ridout trio
Line-up: Alexandra Ridout – trumpet Luca Caruso – drums Freddie Jensen – bass Special guest: Joey Curreri – trumpet Alexandra Ridout returns to the Vortex with her own trio featuring Luca…
Thu 10 December 2020
Jazz Connective – AlinaHipHarp Quintet
Internationally renowned harpist Alina Bzhezhinska has a strong reputation for innovation. This time she creates a unique sound on the harp with effect pedals and electronics, featuring the innovative trumpeter…
Wed 09 December 2020
Trish Clowes Trio – Replay
Replay an intimate set from saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes which was recorded back in September this year. Trish is joined by her friends Chris Montague and Ross Stanley for what…
Vortex discussion 34 – Leader with or versus the group?
This week’s discussion on Zoom focuses on the balance between group leadership and team interaction to evolve music in jazz and improvised music. The special guest will be Tom Challenger,…
Tue 08 December 2020
Bruno Heinen Trio with Alex Hitchcock Replay
Make sure to tune in on Tuesday the 8th December to re-watch Bruno Heinen’s gig at the Vortex from our re-opening weekend! Featuring Andrea Di Biase, Gene Calderazzo and Alex…
Mon 07 December 2020
Stone-Lonergan/ Glaser/ Simpson/ Hayhurst Replay
Don’t miss the chance to catch-up on this fantastic performance from our reopening night at the club last Friday 4th December!
Sat 05 December 2020
Bruno Heinen Trio with Alex Hitchcock
Line-up: Bruno Heinen – Piano Andrea Di Biase – Bass Gene Calderazzo – Drums Featuring – Alex Hitchcock – Tenor Saxophone Bruno Heinen’s music has been described by the Guardian…
Fri 04 December 2020
Stone-Lonergan/ Glaser/ Simpson/ Hayhurst
Line-up: Riley Stone-Lonergan – Tenor Saxophone Rick Simpson – Piano Will Glaser – Drums Oli Hayhurst – Bass A band of four friends who started having regular informal sessions over…
Thu 03 December 2020
Blow The Fuse On Air presents Carol Grimes
Line-up: Carol Grimes – vocals Annie Whitehead – trombone Deirdre Cartwright – guitar Alison Rayner – bass Winston Clifford – drums Donate here Blow the Fuse ‘On Air’ is a…
Wed 02 December 2020
Vortex discussion 33- Creativity. Nature or nurture?
Weekly discussion, led by Vortex director Oliver Weindling, focuses this week on the topic of creativity and where it comes from.
Sun 29 November 2020
Roella Oloro Trio – Live Stream
Line-up: Roella Oloro – Alto Saxophone and Piano Ezekiel Ajie – Bass Andee Liu – Drums Roella Oloro is a British composer and multi-instrumentalist of Nigerian and Jamaican descent. Her…
Thu 26 November 2020
Words and Art – Ben Rogers, Nikki Heinen and Aurelie Freoua
This month’s Words and Art, curated by Nicki Heinen and once again with live art from Aurelie Freoua is broadcast live on Zoom. And audiences can watch online. Colourful –…
Ivo Neame Trio – Replay
Replay one of the first gigs we put on after re-opening in September – British pianist Ivo Neame featuring Tom Farmer on bass and James Maddren on Drums. The event…
Wed 25 November 2020
Vortex discussion 32 – “Who are the new tastemakers?”
This week’s discussion focuses on how we now can find out who to listen to – rely on algorithms, playlists, blogs, podcasts? In the past, we had newspaper reviews and…
Tue 24 November 2020
Grass Roots online – MA
The November edition of Grass Roots welcomes Ma – a young musical triumvirate whose influences include jazz, hip-hop and rock with a soupcon of drum & bass. The band’s name…
Sun 22 November 2020
Olie Brice Trio – Live Stream
Today 4PM Line-up: Olie Brice – double bass Tom Challenger – tenor sax Will Glaser – drums Tune in to watch three of the UKs most innovative improvisers. Featuring a…
Thu 19 November 2020
Renell Shaw Replays – The Windrush Suite and Echo in the Bones
Re-watch Renell Shaw’s highly successful and inspiring compositions the Windrush Suite and Echo in the Bones, a new body of work by composer and arranger Renell Shaw, supported by the…
Wed 18 November 2020
Vortex discussion 31 – Saxophone Massive
In 2006, as the opening event of the London Jazz Festival, we celebrated the opening of Gillett Square with our Saxophone Massive event – 200 saxophonists event. In this week’s…
Tue 17 November 2020
In Conversation with… John Etheridge & Laurie Taylor
In Conversation With… is a new series of informal chats between a musician and another. Our inaugural conversation kicks off with academic, broadcaster and Radio 4 presenter of Thinking Aloud Laurie Taylor, in conversation with guitarist, composer John Etheridge.
Wed 11 November 2020
Vortex discussion 30 – Improvisation as a way to life (with special guest Michael Rüsenberg)
Oliver Weindling, Director at the Vortex, leads an informal discussion on Zoom about improvisation beyond jazz. Open to all – listen or get involved. Improvisation is no just relevant to…
Wed 04 November 2020
Vortex discussion 29 – how do musicians and artists get themselves seen and heard?
An open discussion, hosted by Oliver Weindling, considering how musicians might get heard and heard about in this new environment.
Sat 31 October 2020
Rachael Cohen Trio
Line-up: Rachael Cohen – Alto Sax Joe Downard – Bass Jason Brown – Drums Rachael Cohen presents her international Trio featuring Joe Downard on double Bass and New York drummer…
Echo in the Bones
A new suite of music specially created for Black History Month….
Improv Nights
“IMPROV NIGHTS” is a regular event at The Vortex Jazz Club – Downstairs curated by London-based drummer and percussionist Stefano Ancora.
Fri 30 October 2020
Warmer Than Blood
A new trio from critically acclaimed composer and guitarist Chris Montague (Troyka, Squarepusher) bringing pianist and ECM recording artist, Kit Downes and renowned electric bassist, Ruth Goller (acoustic Ladyland, Melt Yourself Down, Let Spin).
Wed 28 October 2020
Vortex discussion 28 – How do we judge quality?
We are seeing great music and performances appear online – either via Youtube or other videos – or streaming with the likes of Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Spotify 🙁 So how…
Sat 24 October 2020
Fini Bearman – La Loba
Singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist Fini Bearman’s brand new album, La Loba (out 9th October), has already received glowing praise, including 4 ****’s and ‘Editors Choice’ from Jazzwise – ‘La Loba marks…
Fri 23 October 2020
Ant Law Trio
Line-up: Ant Law – Guitar James Maddren – drums Tom Farmer – bass Join us this Friday to watch British guitarist Ant Law play original music from the Vortex. Featuring…