Events

Award winning virtuoso jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader Miles Mindlin returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring Noah Stoneman (piano), Freddie Jensen (bass) & Jack Thomas (drums).

Join us for a memorable night with a quartet featuring 4 Vortex familiar faces: Miguel Gorodi (trumpet), Nick Costley-White (guitar), Oli Hayhurst (bass) & Dave Ingamells (drums)

Jack has had an eclectic career so far, covering a wide range of musical styles, most recently he toured with Palestinian violinist Akram Abdulfattah for his debut UK tour and featured on his release ‘Akram Abdulfattah Live at Cambridge Folk Festival.’

Talkline represents the musical collaboration between vocalist and vibraphone player Amy Hollingsworth and pianist Will Hobson.

Alistair Martin presents music from his latest album, MONOMYTH 1K, alongside some of London’s most creative improvisers: Shirley Smart, Tom Smith, Eddie Lee, and Oren Mcloughlin.

A trio of extraordinary improvisers: Tom Chant (saxophone), John Edwards (double bass) & Eddie Prévost (drums).

Saxophonist Julian Siegel returns to the Vortex with his quartet featuring Liam Noble (piano), Oli Hayhurst (double bass) & Gene Calderazzo (drums).

Our monthly late night series brings songwriters together to perform in the round, hosted by Matthew Herd. We’re hugely excited to welcome the remarkable James Brute as he returns to his East London stomping ground.

Returning to his first instrument the Alto Saxophone, Tony Kofi joins the Organisation for a celebration to alto legend Lou Donaldson, whose roots in Bebop evolved into a mastery of the Soul Jazz movement instigated by the great Jimmy Smith and championed by Blue Note founder Alfred Lion.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

out of lockdown reflection time, emerged this unique and exhilarating trio a musical collaboration between a star singer of irish music with two of the most sought after UK jazz stars.

Luís Vicente, Olie Brice, Mark Sanders are three resourceful and strong-minded improvisers, playing their own version of free-fiery music with an impressive organic interplay. Tonight will be their first meeting with special guest Philipp Wachsmann, one of the finest improvising violinists in the world.

A debut gig of a new ensemble playing all new music penned by Simpson. Expect lots of freedom and joyous noise from a band of some of the UK’s most exciting musicians. 

Guitarist Hannes Riepler returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring Donovan Haffner (sax), Niklas Lukassen (double bass) & Tim Giles (drums).

Saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes has been described as “an improviser to be reckoned with” (Downbeat Magazine) and “one of the most agile and original jugglers of improv and adventurous composition to have appeared in the UK in recent times” (The Guardian).

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

Mopomoso is the UK’s longest running concert series dedicated to freely improvised music! They will be kicking off 2025 with: John Bisset (lap guitar) & Olga Ksendzovska (piano and objects) + Neil Metcalfe (flute), Terry Day (drums) & David Leahy (double bass) + George Haslam (baritone sax/tárogató) & Marcio Mattos (cello/bass/electronics)

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

On this special night, KRSIX, an instrumental sextet led by saxophonist Kasper Rietkerk, will be celebrating the release of their EP: Live in London. While rooted in jazz, KRSIX’s music is heavily influenced by rock, folk, and blues music.

Recipients of the 2023 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award , Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band make a rare appearance in the capital and their first appearance at The Vortex. Known for their raucous live shows and bombastic arrangements, don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the UK’s most exciting jazz ensembles live!

Recipients of the 2023 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award , Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band make a rare appearance in the capital and their first appearance at The Vortex. Known for their raucous live shows and bombastic arrangements, don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the UK’s most exciting jazz ensembles live!

A new collaboration between two highly experienced artists to create a new song. Musical explorations that combine their unique experiences from working with a vast array of different musicians on the international scene.

Kris Davis is a Grammy award-winning pianist and composer described by The New York Times as a beacon for “deciding where to hear jazz on a given night.” We are thrilled to welcome her trio to the Vortex to present her new album “Run the Gauntlet”, featuring bassist Robert Hurst (known for his work with Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen) and drummer Johnathan Blake (know for his work with Kenny Barron, Dave Holland, Tom Harrell). Exclusive UK date.

Kris Davis is a Grammy award-winning pianist and composer described by The New York Times as a beacon for “deciding where to hear jazz on a given night.” We are thrilled to welcome her trio to the Vortex to present her new album “Run the Gauntlet”, featuring bassist Robert Hurst (known for his work with Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen) and drummer Johnathan Blake (know for his work with Kenny Barron, Dave Holland, Tom Harrell). Exclusive UK date.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

As the main compositional outlet for Adam, MERIDIAN comprises of some of the UK’s promising young musical talents: Tom Barford (saxophone), James Pettinger (piano), Daniel Kemshell (electric guitar) & Aram Bahmaie (double bass).

Donovan Haffner Quintet was formed by playing together at Guildhall School of Music when Donovan was just 18 years old. The band featuring Francisco Garcia De Paredes (guitar), Jay Verma (piano), Harry Pearce (double bass) & Harry Ling (drums) plays originals written by Donovan, which comprises of straight-ahead, neo-bop, and contemporary.

Our Whirlpool series continues with a gig led by pianist Tom O’Brien. Exciting music from a group of our thrilling new musicians specially selected from the Vortex! Tom O’Brien presents a new set of compositions and improvisation built around samples from film and television. Tom writes: “I want the samples and compositions to give meaning […]

Acknowledged as one of the UK’s most versatile and creative cellists, trailblazing cellist and composer Shirley Smart returns to the Vortex wit her sextet project feat. James Arben, Alistair Martin, John Crawford, Marcus Penrose and Demi Garcia Sabat.

A gifted international jazz musician and steel pan virtuoso. His music is a blend of his Caribbean roots with the harmonic and improvisational complexities of jazz, creating a lively and eclectic meld all his own.

Acclaimed UK guitarist Nick Costley-White leads his trio featuring Dave Whitford (Billy Hart, Dave Leibman) on bass and Josh Morrison (Stacey Kent, Dave O’Higgins) on drums.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

Trumpeter and composer Kenny Wheeler was a founder member of the London Jazz Orchestra, and the LJO celebrates his 95th birthday with a performance of his Long Suite 2005, written for his 75th birthday tour. Kenny’s writing remains a huge influence on the band’s composer/members and the performance will also “trumpet” new music by LJO pianist Alcyona Mick and bassist Calum Gourlay.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Curated by cellist Shirley Smart, Creations features a set by invited artists from the UKs vibrant free improvisation scene, followed by an acoustic jam session.

Queer Jazz exists to platform, nurture and celebrate the emerging queer jazz scene. Programmed by Tina Edwards and Arowah, they have put together an exciting monthly programme of innovative LGBTQI+ artists at The Vortex Jazz Club, supported by Arts Council England.

Berlin-based collective ‘Bigger Picture’, with compositions written by British pianist Laurie Rich and Danish trumpeter Tobias Bech, bring their music to London for the first time with a quartet outfit featuring Swedish bassist Seth Sjöström and Berlin-born drummer Dominik Witte. They will be performing music from Tobias and Laurie’s upcoming debut album featuring Swedish vocalist Irma Neumüller recorded by Nanni Johansson at Berlin’s Hansa Studios in July, as well as exploring some new compositions.

Swiss pianist, singer and composer Fabienne Ambuehl brings a trio of her favourite musicians – Tom Ollendorff, Matt Ridley and Jon Scott – to celebrate the release of a new album “Thrive” on Ubuntu Music.

Led by pianist and composer Finn Carter, the members of this group all approach improvising from the same perspective: trying to serve the music and remove the ego from improvising. With credits including Loyle Carner, Sampha, Rex Orange County and Tom Misch, these in-demand players are all technically virtuosic, but the music they create together is more than that; it is sensitive, emotive and synergistic.

Bassist & composer Niklas Lukassen returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring: Will Vinson (sax), Ivo Neame (piano) & Francesco Ciniglio (drums).

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Glasshopper welcome being undefined. However, their band leader and Glaswegian saxophonist Jonathan Chung would label their music simply as “Jazz”. The London based trio (a partnership with James Kitchman on guitar and Corrie Dick on drums) have gained wide critical acclaim for their captivating and euphoric live performances, and especially with their latest 2024 post punk/indie jazz release “I’m Not Telling You Anything”.