Events

Rebecka Edlund and Nat Philipps open this year’s first season of the Downstairs Living Room series exploring the sound of new beginnings. Inspired by songs of the folk and jazz worlds.

The exciting and versatile drummer Will Cleasby’s subtle but powerful playing has been heard with a wide variety of high profile artists, including work alongside the likes of acclaimed US trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and Kurt Elling.

“Outstanding” is an overused description but one that’s applied to bassist Orlando le Fleming so consistently that its justification can’t be denied. While living in New York he brought his inimitable personality to work on projects for the likes of Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Antonio Sanchez and many others.

Mopomoso is the UK’s longest running concert series dedicated to freely improvised music!

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Having been making music together in various forms for around 20 years, James and Misha have finally recorded their long-awaited trumpet-and-bass duo project, and for one night only they are launching their album “Moon Beans” here at the Vortex.

Meet Reiss Ellis Beckles: a dynamic saxophonist, composer, and educator. Based in the bustling metropolis of London, Reiss epitomizes versatility and diversity, seamlessly traversing genres from jazz to pop to hip hop with finesse and flair.

Happy Garden is a nature-inspired, 6-piece nu-jazz band blending lush harmonies, organic grooves, and improvisational freedom. Drawing influence from the natural world, their sound fuses elements of Nu jazz, Afro Rhythms, and beautiful soundscapes to create immersive sonic landscapes.

Di-Cysgodion, led by Welsh bass player/composer HUW V WILLIAMS. The line up consists of Mike De Souza and Billy Marrows both on electric guitar, Jay Davis on drums and Huw V Williams completing the line up on electric bass.

Emma Rawicz returns to the Vortex with an exciting new quartet, featuring some of the most exciting improvisers that Europe has to offer. The band is decidedly international, with heavyweights from across France, Denmark, and the UK, and draws on long term creative relationships as well as establishing a brand new band sound.

At the rhythmic epicentre of innovative British jazz is Corrie Dick, a musician and composer specialising in euphoric, sonically-inventive drumming.

Invitation only preview screening of “Nathaniel Dye: Against The Odds”  – a short documentary by Cath Longbottom. 

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Acclaimed American drummer Jeff Williams, a London resident for two decades until recently, returns to the Vortex with his first project as a leader in the UK since moving abroad.

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. First set from […]

Emerging from the creative London jazz scene, EMRYS are a trio of unique young artists crafting original jazz music. Drawing from a shared love of Jazz, Classical, Choral and Folk music, their immersive compositions inspire flowing musical landscapes inviting reflection and rediscovery.

The George Johnson quartet is one of the most exciting up and coming talents in UK jazz. With Johnson leading the band on tenor saxophone and composing the bands music, they explore many different styles and navigate contrasting atmospheres throughout their sets.

This month’s Whirlpool night is curated by bassist Oli Fitzgerald. He presents a night of his own original music involving his colleagues.

Karim Saber celebrates the release of his second album “Sundance”
“Sundance” is the second offering from Guitarist, Composer and Bandleader Karim Saber. Recorded in January 2025 it captures the creative period since the release of his debut album “Transmission”

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music   Line-up: Riley Stone-Lonergan – Tenor saxophone Spike Wells – Drums Eddie Myer – Double bass   About QOW […]

Still Waters was born out a long association and friendship going back 40 years between Henry Lowther and Britain’s premiere bassist Dave Green.

Doors 3:30 PM, Music 4:00 PM – 2 set(s) of music The LJO continues London’s longest jazz residency, each month playing great new music to the highest of standards, featuring […]

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

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.

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:30 PM – 1 set of music   Line-up: Jack Wilson- Saxophone – Tenor saxophone Jakub Klimiuk – Guitar Jack Turnbull – Bass guitar Jack Yardley […]

After a decade-long hiatus, Aquarium return to the stage — the reunion of one of the most distinctive groups to emerge from the UK jazz scene in the last twenty years.

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:30 PM – 1 set(s) of music   Line-up: Gloria Yehilevsky – Vibraphone Sam Warner – Trumpet Richard Foote – trombone   About Gloria Yehilevsky’s G […]

Playing tribute to the Leeds alt-jazz pioneer of the 1980s, alto saxophonist Xero Slingsby (Matthew Coe), this performance will feature special guest Alan Wilkinson (from Xero’s band) playing Xero’s original saxophone.

The Downstairs Living room series presents jazz singer and songwriter Emma Taylor. She brings and intimate selection of tunes, drawing from her favourite songwriters in duo form with pianist and composer John Haslam.

Tom is delving into the world of synths – a lifelong love of his being given the full solo treatment in a forward-thinking and endlessly inventive setup.

Join a collective of musicians who met through the Vortex jazz club in imagining future standards

Tony Kofi & 52nd Street: a new project which explores the beginnings of bebop, when New York’s 52nd Street was buzzing with the new music and the first generation of modern jazz musicians was turning the music world on its head.

Expect a cozy dancefloor, records only, house party vibes, and an inclusive space open to everyone who wants to boogie.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe is a pianist and composer from North London whose lyrical improvisational style and challenging harmonic depth have marked him as a uniquely special musician. His compositions are distinct in their beautifully crafted melodies, and yet there is also a dedication in his playing which speaks to a deep need to push forward and challenge the sound.

Guitarist Hannes Riepler leads a quartet of distinctive voices from the contemporary London jazz scene, bringing together original music that is lyrical, searching, and rhythmically alive.

Having played together for over 15 years, recorded albums together like as Dreamlife of Debris (ECM), toured all over Europe, Kit and Tom are now working on new material in evolving new constellations.

Led by Marta Gornitzka on vocals, the project is a tribute to the legendary vocalist Sheila Jordan, celebrating her unique improvisational and storytelling approach to jazz.

The Fabrice Tarel Quartet makes its first UK visit with a programme of lyrical, contemporary jazz – known for its melodic depth and rhythmic finesse.

Contexture is a continuation of Sacha Harlan’s musical partnership with bassist Kobe Heath-Ngugi, interwoven with the tightly unified pairing of saxophonist George Mooney and trombonist Olivia Hughes.

The trio will be performing 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.

Doors 2:00 PM About Simian Carbuncle – Matt Clark/Adrian Southby – (prepared guitars) + Sam Bailey (piano) & Kit Bula (drums) + Barbara Mukoda (flutes), Stuart Wilding (percussion), Pete Robson […]

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

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.

Rory Ingham brings together an all-star line-up to celebrate the music of jazz titans Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter, via the legendary group led by Art Blakey: ‘The Jazz Messengers’.

Prolific sax and drums duo Colin Webster and Andrew Lisle are joined by world-renowned bassist John Edwards for an evening of ferocious and fearless improvised music.

Alexander Hawkins is a composer, pianist, organist, and bandleader who is ‘unlike anything else in modern creative music’, described by Point of Departure as ‘an early 21st century pioneer…a musician with frightening resources’.

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:30 PM – 1 set(s) of music   Line-up: Mike Perry – Drums Faye Thompson – Alto saxophone Safiyya Babio – fender rhodes About: Live Electronic […]

Join us for the launch of Billy’s third album, ‘Dancing On Bentwood Chairs’, his first with long-standing quartet, the Billy Marrows Band.

On album lunch day, Niklas Lukassen brings his program Still Waters to the Vortex in a stellar line up of creatives he has worked with in contrasting ensembles. His highly anticipated band leader debut release on Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Heartcore Records, is a radiant display of his combined talents as a bassist, composer and vocalist.