Events

The LJO, stronger than ever, returns for its 33rd season at the Vortex featuring a new "Crazy Suite" - a fun collaboration between director Scott Stroman, pianist Alcyona Mick, sax Martin Hathaway and trumpet Andre Canniere - created during the band's artist-in-residency at Morley College. 

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Following on from their debut performance earlier this year, Ayo Vincent leads his trio through a program of original compositions. Expect high energy twists, turns and exploration.

Renowned for her exceptional scat singing skills which include her ability to seamlessly blend intricate vocal improvisations with the bebop style. Her impeccable sense of timing, creative phrasing and playfulness contribute to her captivating performances.

An evening of new songs from Matthew Herd (Seafarers), Sam Griffiths (The Howl & The Hum), and Elanor Moss.

Alex Hitchcock is an immediately distinctive improviser and a leading voice on the saxophone in the UK. An Ivor Novello-nominated composer, is innovative collaborations have confirmed his growing international reputation as an instigator and catalyst for captivating musical encounters that 'continually push the envelope a little further' (Jazzmania BE).

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

“A trio of masters here, with every note and sequence a new discovery” – Chris Searle Morning Star

Artist, tattooist & musician Loz KeyStone and drummer Harry Pope present Surrender - an improvised duet for amplified tattoo machine and drums.

A UK jazz super group, Out Front formed to play the music of two of Jazz’s greatest ‘inside-outside’ masters: Booker Little and Andrew Hill.

Sam Newbould Quintet is an award winning five piece international line-up hailing from the UK, Spain, Israel and the Netherlands. Based in Amsterdam, the quintet won the prestigious Keep an Eye Records in 2019. The band appear at the Vortex tonight as part of their UK-wide tour, premiering new music for their third studio album to be released in 2024.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

First London concert for over 10 years for Larry Stabbins, whose 50+ year career across the spectrum of music has included long spells in the bands of Keith Tippet, Peter Brotzmann and Tony Oxley as well as cult pop group Weekend, co-leading Latin Soul jazz band Working Week and his own projects as Stonephace.,

Samba Azul is a chameleon collective of London-based musicians with a shared passion for Brazilian music that has been together for over 10 years. Tonight they return to the Vortex with a special horn section featuring Leo Richardson (tenor sax), Miguel Gorodi (trumpet) & Olli Martin (trombone).

Bassist and composer Dave Manington is one of the mainstays of the London jazz scene, a founder member of the Loop Collective, he has played with many of the pre-eminent jazz musicians in the UK and Europe including Julian Arguelles, Marius Neset and Gwilym Simcock amongst many others.

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

The 6/8 Club celebrates 50 years of Hip Hop with Dynamax Roberts.

This is the first of the new Whirlpool series, encouraging new music from the newest cohort of London musicians. Six curators, recent graduates, will programme the nights to encourage the creation of new connections, both professional and musical. Each gig will involve musicians from across graduates of the three main London colleges:  Royal Academy Of Music, Guildhall School of Music And Drama & Trinity Laban.

Guitarist Joseph Leighton has been hailed as one of Ireland’s brightest new jazz talents. This new trio features two legends of the UK jazz scene Oli Hayhurst (Pharoah Sanders, Kirk Lightsey) and Jay Davis (Alex Hitchcock & 'BadTrad').

Shrike Records are pleased to host a special double-header at the Vortex, showcasing some of London’s finest improvising musicians, and presenting two recent releases from this new label.

Olli Soikkeli was born in Nurmes, Finland in 1991. He started playing guitar at age of 12. After a few years of playing Olli was introduced to the music of the great Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz has been Ollis main focus ever since. Soon Olli was playing in jazz clubs and festivals all around Finland with the top musicians from Finland. After touring all around Europe with musicians such as Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud Van Den Berg Olli decided to move to New York City in 2014.

Acclaimed trumpeter / composer Laura Jurd paves the way for the spirited improvisations of UK free jazz icon, Paul Dunmall and his quartet - fuelled by a dream-team, brass quintet.

During his 10-year tenure with the LJO, Stuart Hall produced a wealth of great (and witty) compositions and arrangements for the band, often featuring singer Brigitte Beraha - they return for a joyous celebration of his music alongside great new music written by the band’s members.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

This October, guitarist Tom Ollendorff is touring with his quartet featuring the legendary saxophonist Tim Garland to celebrate the release of his critically acclaimed latest album 'Open House'.

Jay Davis's BadTrad features four of the most exciting improvising voices from the UK Jazz scene. Compositions include pieces using melodies overheard being hummed by strangers in the street, a robotic construction from a laptop and a three year olds' piano improvisation.

Alongside his internationally acclaimed jazz flute playing Eddie is a superlative pianist and keyboard player (“my Dad started me on piano when I was 4”, he says), and the band is also a vehicle for this hitherto largely unknown side.

The return of the mistressful Carol Grimes, one of our favourite vocalists, with a band featuring Deirdre Cartwright (guitar), Alison Rayner (bass) & Steve Lodder (piano).

Lulu Pierre is a startling new arrival on the London jazz vocal scene, who has proved herself to be a classic Torch Song stylist in the tradition of Julie London.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

Join us for a very special evening featuring three of London's finest musicians in trio together for the first time.

24-year-old, London based trumpeter & composer Grifton Forbes-Amos brings his quintet to the Vortex for the very first time to perform some original compositions.

This is a new project which sees the original quartet of like-minded friends, Family Band, expanded to a seven piece band. The band takes as its starting point the music of those musicians who, back in the 1960s, were at the forefront of the free jazz revolution, but whose opening up of jazz's constraints is now recognised as not a break from the past but an integral part of the music's development.

Rory Ingham brings together the best jazz trombonists in the business to play a night of brand new music, featuring fresh works by prolific writer and world-famous trombonist Mark Nightingale.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.

The trio, featuring 3 leading voices in the international jazz scene: Will Vinson on sax & keys, Gilad Hekselman on guitar, and Nate Wood on drums & bass, will be celebrating the release of their new album 'Urban Myth' on Whirlwind Recordings.

The trio, featuring 3 leading voices in the international jazz scene: Will Vinson on sax & keys, Gilad Hekselman on guitar, and Nate Wood on drums & bass, will be celebrating the release of their new album 'Urban Myth' on Whirlwind Recordings.

Sheldon Agwu's new project ‘The Pirate Sessions’ is an exploration of Free Improvisation, incorporating elements of Jazz, Avant Garde Hip-Hop, Electronica, and World Music.