Events

Our monthly late night series brings songwriters together to perform in the round, hosted by Matthew Herd. This month we welcome Gabi Garbutt, in a rare and intimate solo outing.

Elina Duni and Rob Luft’s programme of songs of love and exile has been gathering momentum since 2017. Together, they take us on a journey through timeless folksongs from the Balkans and the Mediterranean which still resonate so truly today.

“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.

Featuring: Paul Jolly (reeds) and Petra Haller (tap) + Pascal Marzan (10-string micro-tonal guitar) and Jo Dyer (dance) + David Leahy (double bass and movement) solo

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 Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.

Nir Felder has been called “the next big jazz guitarist” (NPR) and a “whiz kid” (The New York Times), fusing jazz, rock, and beyond with a sound that’s both sophisticated and explosive. Tonight, he is joined by first-call American bassist Michael Janisch and Gary Novak, a preeminent all-around drummer and percussionist, brings a genre-defying mastery that blends jazz, metal, and Indian classical music.

Let Forever Be Delayed is a UK based co-led experimental & free-improvising quartet comprised of : George Garford (alto), Tara Cunningham (guitar), Caius Williams (double bass) & Theo Guttenplan (drums)

Renowned jazz development organisation, Tomorrow’s Warriors, shines a spotlight on two of development ensembles for this special double-header at the Vortex. 

Join us for an unforgettable evening with drummer / composer Finn Genockey and his quartet as they perform music from his upcoming debut album: “Tacet Trust”. Featuring the talents of Rasmus Sørensen and Nico Klöffer alongside London-based Josh Short and Finn himself.

‘Poncha’ is Nick Costley-White’s highly-anticipated third album; a deeply personal collection of seven original compositions named after the Portuguese drink ‘punch’. Using a heady brew of cultural influences, his music skilfully blends dance rhythms and playful melodies from Brazil and Cuba with the harmony and swing of American jazz.

Pianist and composer Zoe Rahman’s world class trio will be performing music from her latest album ‘Colour of Sound‘ alongside brand-new compositions.

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 Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.

The Austrian Cultural Forum London is delighted to invite you to this year’s edition of the concert series JazzExchange which aims to spotlight cutting edge Austrian groups and UK based ensembles curated by Guido Spannocchi

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.

Steven Nichols is a London-based trumpeter and composer/arranger. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2024, he signed with Ubuntu Music to release his debut album ’From Dust’. Tonight his quintet will be performing his ‘From Dust’ project live for the first time since 2022, joined by the same musicians as featured on the album.

The final concert of this year’s series. A celebration of new music by Ashley Bonfante, Julian Woods, Jem Whyte, Tom O’Brien, Jonah Evans and special guests and friends. It’ll be quite a celebration!

Come and hear the great improvisers of the future share their talent in a programme led by Moss Freed and Academy alumnus Chris Williams. This programme represents the culmination of workshops with this special group of Royal Academy of Music students, connected by a keen interest in delving deeper into individual expression and exploring collaborative forms of real-time music-making.

Lockheart/Williams/Davis is a new trio that shifts moment to moment, gracefully and spontaneously stitching together original compositions along with a few well-chosen known songs.

Singer songwriter and vocalist Immy Churchill welcomes you to the Downstairs Living Room as she releases her debut single “Give Me Time To Breathe”. This intimate solo gig will be a sharing of her original songs, both old and new, in celebration of her long-awaited release as a solo artist.

Join us for an evocative evening of traditional and cross-cultural melodies with Suna Alan, a Kurdish Alevi singer whose voice carries the spirit of her ancestral heritage and the cosmopolitan soul of her upbringing.

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 Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) 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.

Maydew/Wickham/Martin-Jones is a jazz trio that ventures into the rich worlds of European folk and classical music, reimagining them through the art of improvisation.

Into his 5th decade of playing regular gigs at the Vortex, Virtuoso Tuba player and inventor of the Orenophone, Oren Marshall brings together two of his favourite (and multiple award-winning) London musicians – saxophonist/composer Josephine Davies and drummer/composer Jay Davis.

Daniel Kemshell and Olly Chalk first met in Birmingham over ten years ago. Since then their friendship and musicianship has blossomed through frequent collaboration.

Rosie Turton, Isobella Burnham, Momoko Gill, Jan Halen and Bridget Walsh create and co-regulate in real time, exploring everything from wildfires to revolution, misogyny to mutual-aid, lullabies to Land Back. Special guest performance from Rosie Frater-Taylor.

High energy free improvisation from a quartet made up of four leading names from the UK and European jazz and improvised music scene.

Whispers of Rain is a bold collaboration between Alina Bzhezhinska and Tulshi, reimagining the harp through the lens of electronics and live sound design. For this special album launch, Alina is joined by the legendary Tony Kofi, whose powerful saxophone voice brings new colours to their soundscape & special guest Hyelim Kim.

Annie Whitehead 4tet & The Orchestra That Fell to Earth.
A very special double-header to celebrate the 70th birthday of world renowned trombonist Annie Whitehead.

“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.

To top off it’s 33rd season at the Vortex, the London Jazz Orchestra celebrates the 75th birthday of phenomenal pianist and composer Pete Saberton, whose unique writing and playing style helped define the sound of the band.

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 Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.

Gloria Yehilevsky’s G M?R is a trio+ whose identity expands beyond its London-based core of Yehilevsky on vibraphone/percussion, Aram Bahmaie on basses, Jason Yarde on saxophone and Sam Norris on alto sax/flute.

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.

Quicksilver improvisation from a quartet of dynamic voices from across the UK creative music spectrum

Known for ‘Nudging boundaries as she goes’ and ‘raw and striking vocals’ Italian singer and storyteller Germana Stella La Sorsa’s innovative style has found the perfect partner in internationally renowned British guitarist Tom Ollendorff, starting a collaboration envisioned as a celebration of the beauty of simplicity.

Lekan Babalola Known for his interpretation of ancient music through African Diaspora influences, Lekan Babalola and The Sacred Funk Quartet bring you an evening of “mesmerizing fusion, skillfully blending cosmopolitan nuances with mystical subtlety.”

Our monthly late night series brings together some of the most prominent voices in contemporary songwriting, hosted by Matthew Herd. This month we’re hugely excited to welcome an acoustic set from The Howl & The Hum.

Two leading lights of the UK contemporary jazz scene, well known as members of the award winning group Empirical, come together for this explosive duo show. Nathaniel Facey (alto saxophone) and Shaney Forbes (drums) will explore the material from John Coltrane’s classic record Interstellar Space.

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 Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music   About 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. Tickets […]

London guitarist and composer Jakub Klimiuk brings his quintet to present music from the critically acclaimed album ‘(un)balanced’, described by The Guardian as “a rare mix of New York edginess and Scandinavian avant-jazz impressionism”, alongside completely new material.

ReWired is the new acoustic trio project from acclaimed composer, arranger and pianist, Janette Mason.

Album launch for “All It Was”, the new album by the Olie Brice Quartet. The Olie Brice Quartet – featuring Rachel Musson, Alexander Hawkins and Will Glaser – play Brice’s compositions

Described by the Guardian as “eclectic, eccentric and unobtrusively erudite”, Bruno Heinen joins forces with acclaimed ECM recording artist Tom Challenger to play arrangements of Abdullah Ibrahim, Dorothy Ashby and Leonard Bernstein alongside originals from the co-leaders with fiery young rhythm section of Kobe Heath and Will Cleasby.

This month featuring: Robin Foster (objects), Matthew Grigg (guitar/amplifier) & Tom Ward (saxophone/clarinet/flute) + John Butcher (saxophones), Phil Durrant (mandolin), Mark Wastell (perc) + Charlotte Keeffe (trumpet), N.O. Moore (guitar) & Peter Cusack (guitar, 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 Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.

An evening of beautiful Eastern European and Gypsy Folk with some Klezmer. The first of a series of live, unplugged & audio inclusive gigs that we’ll be hosting throughout the year in association with Sownd Affects.