Events

Rising guitar star Tom Ollendorff collaborates with one of the world’s great pianists, Aaron Parks for an unmissable run of concerts this March.

The Vortex Collective returns for an afternoon showcasing jazz from around the globe.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

An afternoon and evening showcase of bands from the Guildhall Jazz Department led by tutors including Rachael Cohen, Gareth Lockrane, Rob Barron, Clare Wheeler, Winston Clifford, Kate Williams, Brigitte Beraha, Ines Loubet, Larry Bartley, Tom Farmer and more!

A second afternoon and evening showcase of bands from the Guildhall Jazz Department led by tutors including Rachael Cohen, Gareth Lockrane, Rob Barron, Clare Wheeler, Winston Clifford, Kate Williams, Brigitte Beraha, Ines Loubet, Larry Bartley, Tom Farmer and more!

Silvia Leonzio Quartet is a new project that brings together various genres such as modern jazz, folk, world music, improvised music, and songwriting. The project introduces a fresh and captivating sound by combining these diverse elements.

Following over 15 years on the stage and tour with the internationally renowned London Afrobeat Collective, trumpeter Andy Watts announces his forthcoming solo release ‘The Way Back From Here’. In its live iteration, the quartet features cornet, guitar, bass & drums, and expands on the compositions from the record, showcasing the ability of some of Andy’s favourite London musicians.

UFO (Unidentified Folk Outfit), led by Tom Ridout on the electric recorder, is a Rock/Folk power trio that reinvents traditional English folk music. The band combines innovative arrangements with a focus on improvisation, creating a unique and dynamic sound. Expect to hear well-known melodies, but with intriguing and unexpected twists.

This trio features Czech double-bassist Jiří Slavík in collaboration with extraordinary jazz pianist Liam Noble and home percussionist from Abbey Road Studios Paul Clarvis, whose duo recordings had a major impact on Slavík since the times when he first met them as a student of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Playing a mixture of original compositions written by each member of the trio.

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

Come & join us for another wonderful Mopomoso featuring: Caroline Kraabel (sax), Maggie Nicols (voice, tap),
Marilza Gouvea (voice, electronics), Maja-Leigh Rosenwasser (piano, electronics) & Sue Lynch (sax)

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

Discover this new trio featuring clarinetist Andreas Røysum, bassist John Edwards & drummer Mark Sanders currently touring in Norway and the UK.

Deschanel Gordon, the 2020 BBC Young Jazz Musician winner, showcases a remarkable blend of originality and versatility in his performances. His music embodies swing, groove and his Jamaican heritage. Gordon’s ability to navigate various styles and collaborate seamlessly makes him a standout figure in the contemporary UK jazz scene.

Trumpeter/composer Sean Gibbs leads a big band featuring some of the UK’s most prominent jazz musicians. They will be performing new material alongside music from their critically acclaimed album Confluence, which was nominated for Best Album at the 2023 Scottish Jazz Awards.

We welcome back the World Music Big Band led by Ian Bumstead on Tenor sax and featuring Alison Rayner on bass and Mark Huggett on drums.

From the rising star Immy Churchill to internationally renowned musicians Percy Pursglove, Jim Hart, Ivo Neame and the legendary veteran Christy Doran; five illustrious British musicians contributing to drummer Florian Arbenz’s newest project.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

Originally hailing from the Highlands, 24-year- old bass player Ali Watson has recently been making waves with his new quartet comprising an all-star band of Glasgow musicians – Matt Carmichael, Alan Benzie and Greg Irons.

Rebecka Edlund is a Swedish singer, lyricist & composer whose music is a concoction of jazz and Scandinavian folk music, herding calls, bird whistles and other peculiar sounds. Fellow explorers and esteemed improvisers Laura Jurd, Elliot Galvin and Caius Williams will join Rebecka as they venture into unknown terrains, taking the listener with them.

The Sun-Mi Hong Quintet is an emerging addition to the European scene of improvised and contemporary jazz music. The Quintet walks the line between elaborate composition and the great void that is improvised music.

Two singer songwriters join Matthew Herd to perform in the round as part of our intimate, late night series. This month features Immy Churchill and Arun Thavasothy.

Multi-award-winning jazz vocalist, lyricist and producer, Georgia Mancio, is a supreme storyteller, creating work of authenticity, adventure, beauty and bite. Whether interpreting her own luminous originals or standards, Georgia’s evoking performances connect deeply with her audiences and linger long in the mind.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

Taking their name, and not much else, from a late Victorian circus act involving the catching of turnips on a fork wedged between his front facing incisors, Noble and Simkins wind and swoop their way around melodies from classic standards to 80s pop.

Together Montague and Morcaldi blend electric guitar, classical guitar and sonic exploration within a broad repertoire from Joni Mitchell and The Beatles, Bill Frisell and Ralph Towner, to original compositions and improvisations.

Join longstanding Vortex favourites Dunajska Kapelye for a night of authentic Balkan and East European folk, Klezmer, Hotclub jazz and the odd standard.

Album launch for the whispery, noir-ish, avant-garde singer Paula Rae Gibson with avant Memorymoog synth innovator pianist and improviser Matthew Bourne will deliver a night of extreme intimacy and bravery, with special guest Alex Bonney.

A special performance with Mark’s new all-star 13 piece group.

A special performance with Mark’s new all-star 13 piece group.

The band’s 32nd season at the Vortex has featured a rush of new music, with great new pieces arriving at every gig.  This month the band takes stock, pulling them together (with some LJO favourites) into a special set for the Easter season.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

Unfortunately, due to the ASLEF drivers strike scheduled on Monday 8th April, some of the performers are unable to travel to London for this book launch. The event has now been postponed and we hope to announce a new date shortly. Tickets purchased will remain valid for the new date. 

This month it’s the turn of vocalist Marta to lead our Whirlpool collective.

Join us for this triple bill featuring performances from Loz Speyer (trumpet), Marcio Mattos (double bass), Dave Fowler (drums) & Alex Ward (electric guitar) with live painting from artist Aurelie Freoua

Vibraphonist Joel Ross comes to the Vortex with his longtime band “Good Vibes” featuring Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall on bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums, as part of a European tour celebrating the release of their latest album “nublues”.

Vibraphonist Joel Ross comes to the Vortex with his longtime band “Good Vibes” featuring Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall on bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums, as part of a European tour celebrating the release of their latest album “nublues”.

Guitarist Hannes Riepler returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring Tom Barford (sax), Oli Hayhurst (double bass) & Joel Barford (drums).

Pianist & composer Nikki Yeoh returns to the Vortex for an unmissable night with an incredible line-up featuring Olie Brice (bass), Paul Dunmall (saxophone) & Mark Sanders (drums).

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

At just 22 years old, Swiss London-based producer and accordion phenomenon Anatole Muster is already making waves in the internatonal music scene! With his fresh take on modern jazz, he’s garnered praise from the likes of Jamie Cullum and collaborated with heavyweights like Tennyson, Kiefer, and Louis Cole! 

American saxophonist James Brandon Lewis returns to the Vortex for an exclusive UK date, introducing his new quartet record “Transfiguration” (Feb 16th on Intakt Records).

American saxophonist James Brandon Lewis returns to the Vortex for an exclusive UK date, introducing his new quartet record “Transfiguration” (Feb 16th on Intakt Records).

Bruno Heinen joins forces with ECM recording artist Tom Challenger to play arrangements of Horace Silver, Bobby Hutcherson and Dorothy Ashby alongside originals from the co-leaders with a fiery young rhythm section of Kobe Heath and Will Cleasby.