“One of the UK’s most honest and musical jazz vocalists” The Guardian Ian Shaw’s remarkable vocal range and style have seen him breathe new life into pop tunes and standards; he possesses an unfailing ability to reinvent even the most maudlin showtunes. Having amassed a number of highly acclaimed releases Shaw’s performances both in the […]
Winner of the “Best Jazz Vocalist Category” in the 2013 British Jazz Awards, Wardell is noted for her vocal improvisations and vocalese lyrics to instrumental solos. Tonight, Anita will be singing material from back catalogue, preceded by a set from the participants of her autumn vocal course. Winner of the “Best Jazz Vocalist Category” in […]
Direct from Rajasthan to play at the Tusk Festival in Newcastle Upon Tyne, this is a one-off London appearance for Irshad Ali Qawwali Party – four young exponents of this ancient Sufi musical form. Qawwali can be traced back to the 13th Century migration south of people from Persia into India and the resultant melding of […]
Following the critical acclaim for drummer Eddie Prévost’s bold series of recorded concerts in 2011, join us for this unique monthly live series, revisiting the Meetings With Remarkable Saxophonists recordings and discovering how the music has evolved. Bertrand Denzler tenor saxophone, John Edwards double bass Eddie Prévost drums “Bertrand Denzler shares a mastery of what […]
Match&Fuse have supported and presented uncompromising and innovative music since 2011, with tours across 9 European countries and a major festival visiting London, Oslo and Rome. Tonight the punk-jazz of WorldService Project, described as resembling “a scientist at work on some mad scheme in a garden shed absent-mindedly applying jump leads to an unsuspecting squirrel […]
The Other Woman – the UK’s only all female new music playlist – broadcasts on Amazing Radio & is presented by Ruth Barnes who searches out the best new music from female artists and female fronted bands. The Vortex and The Other Woman have joined forces for tonight’s show, bringing together three very different but […]
Guitarist and composer Jonny Phillips’ Oriole features a unique set of musicians chosen for their musical openness, empathetic playing and ability to assimilate folkloric styles into a contemporary sound. First formed in 2004 their members represent something of a F-IRE collective super group, albeit one whose sound is a million miles from the left-field jazz […]
After a recent encounter at the Vortex Downstairs Jazz Night, Hannes Riepler invites Chris Cheek to play upstairs at the Vortex. They will be playing new music inspired by this collaboration, also featuring master drummer James Maddren and a bassist tba. Chris Cheek moved to New York in 1992 and since then has toured and […]
Directed by Scott Stroman, the London Jazz Orchestra has been described as “as fine a band as you can find anywhere” (The Independent). These up-close-and-personal sessions showcase great writing and soloing from a band that includes many of London’s top musicians, as well as new talents. Doors 3pm On stage 3.30pm
This monthʼs Mopomoso programme of free improvised music features musicianʼs from Japan, Belgium, France and the UK in three contrasting and inspiring trios. Run entirely by volunteers Mopomoso plays host to the UKʼs longest running concert series dedicated to free improvisation. Yoko Miura (piano) / Jean Michel van Shouwburg (voice) / Lawrence Casserley (electronics) trio […]
Alto saxophonist Martin Speake launches two new cds of improvised music on his own Pumpkin Records label with three sets of music. The first set will be a duo with virtuoso improvising classical pianist Douglas Finch. “He hears everything and whatever I play he can make something of it that is fresh and unique. It […]
“Can you think of a better saxophone player? I can’t. He is a giant.” Robert Wyatt Evan Parker is one of the great saxophone players, pushing the instrument into uncharted waters since his emergence in the late 1960s. To mark his 70th year, Parker curates a week of performances at the Vortex and Cafe Oto, […]
Kamao means “I like/I love/ I want” in Romani dialect. The Kamao Quintet take their inspiration from the legacy of the great Django Reinhardt and traditional Manouche and Romani music. Their repertoire ranges from hot swinging jazz, traditional manouche songs, original compositions, jazz songs and even Brazilian Choro. Fronted by singer and guitarist Jean de Talhouet, the […]
“Can you think of a better saxophone player? I can’t. He is a giant.” Robert Wyatt Evan Parker is one of the great saxophone players, pushing the instrument into uncharted waters since his emergence in the late 1960s. To mark his 70th year, Parker curates a week of performances at the Vortex and Cafe Oto, […]
“Dark, menacing, bass heavy – the new sound of UK jazzzzzzz!” Gilles Peterson BBC 6 Music Roller Trio’s music is a fresh, visceral stew of conventional and experimental sounds that features stonking riffs, thrashy noise, evocative songs and electronic soundscapes. Incubated in mammoth improvisation sessions and honed in local gigs, their music is delivered with […]
“Can you think of a better saxophone player? I can’t. He is a giant.” Robert Wyatt Evan Parker is one of the great saxophone players, pushing the instrument into uncharted waters since his emergence in the late 1960s. To mark his 70th year, Parker curates a week of performances at the Vortex and Cafe Oto, […]
Ahead of launching his new project at this years EFG London Jazz Festival, Phil Meadows is coming back to the Vortex to celebrate the music from last years critically acclaimed album Engines of Creation. As 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Newcomer of the Year and Peter Whittingham Jazz Award winner Meadows takes joy in telling tales from […]
Rowland’s quartet is a new dynamic group of highly respected musicians merging to create something transcendental, colourful, expansive, otherworldly and deep. Music that is both driven and inventive with the occasional subterraneous excursion. Evocative, worldly explorations of free improvisation, jazz and groove sounds with added inspirations from the Caribbean and India. Ethereal themes converge with […]
When “Racconti Mediterranei” (Mediterranean Tales) was released by Egea records at the beginning of the last decade, a lot of people made a lot of noise. The CD gave us a chamber ensemble characterised by refined and evocative sounds. In 2014, the Pieranunzi Trio will give life to the “New Mediterranean Tales”, renewing the narrative […]
Jon Lloyd / John Law / Rob Palmer / Tom Farmer / Dave Hamblett Catch the group in London as part of their UK tour “A saxophone delivery as persuasive as a speaking voice. Lloyd should be seen and heard more often.” Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD “The album sees Lloyd moving away from […]
Tony Kofi (Alto Saxophone), Larry Bartley (Double Bass) & Rod Youngs (Drums) pay homage to the music of Ornette Coleman. TONY KOFI was born in Nottingham to West African parents. A self-taught musician, he came to London in the early ’90s. Tony has worked and recorded with the David Murray Big Band, Gary Crosby’s Nu […]
The Kansas Smitty’s House Band sprang from the need of a young, innovative group of jazz musicians to have a home in which to craft their collective sound. When Smitty’s eight members get together, they play with unmasked joy on both original and classic material. Their inspiration combines a love for the tight, complex swing […]
We welcome back a genuine legend of British jazz, tonight playing with this group of musicians some of whom are well established, others new to the scene. Bobby Wellins, saxophone Liam Noble, piano Mark Lewandowski, bass Dave Wickins, drums Bobby Wellins Possibly Wellins’s most famous recorded performance was his solo on Starless and Bible Black […]
Mojo (moderately optimistic jazz orchestra) are an exciting 17 piece jazz big band based in north London, made up of great musicians from all over the capital. With a repertoire including laid back & up tempo swing, Latin and funk and playing a wide ranging variety of charts from the traditional (Buddy Rich, Count Basie, […]
Broca Ensemble Occupying the space somewhere between minimalism, classical and ambient, the Broca Ensemble play soundscapes for large guitar ensemble. Formed in South East London in 2010, the group has grown from an original four members to now having, on occasion, up to ten players. The music is largely improvised and devised from a set […]
A night of experimental sounds featuring two of the most exciting drummers around BLUEBLUT Pamelia Kurstin, theremin Mark Holub, drums Chris Janka, guitar A broken wind up children’s toy, driving drums, theremin and distorted guitar crash together in this fun, madcap debut by three musical powerhouses. Pamelia Kurstin is probably the most recognisable player of the […]
Two of the greatest folk artists of our time on one stage! Luminary acoustic guitarist and songwriter John Renbourn is best known for his collaboration with Bert Jansch, and also enjoyed great success with folk/jazz fusion band Pentangle with whom he appeared at both the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight Festivals. There are few […]
Arts Canteen presents Anatolian songbird Olcay Bayir, releasing her debut album Neva/Harmony on Riverboat Records in October. To celebrate the release, she will perform at The Vortex on Wednesday 5th November 2014 Or if you prefer, Arts Canteen Olcay Bayir’in Riverboat Records tarafindan Ekim’de cikarilacak ilk albumu Neva/Harmony ‘i sunar . Album Vortex Jazz Club […]
Poetry, comedy and live music, with consumate wordsmith John Hegley who tonight will be joined by a live band. ‘Comedy’s poet laureate” The Independent Local man John Hegley’s first public performance monies came from busking his songs, initially outside a shoeshop in Hull, in the late Seventies. He performed on the streets of London in […]
Join us for a night of swinging jazz led by “one of the most innovative, exciting and original trumpet players alive” Jazzwise Magazine Raised in a musical environment, Byron Wallen started learning his first instrument, piano, at an early age. He then went on to study trumpet with Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd and Jon Faddis, in New […]
Following the critical acclaim for drummer Eddie Prévost’s bold series of recorded concerts in 2011, join us for this unique monthly live series, revisiting the Meetings With Remarkable Saxophonists recordings and discovering how the music has evolved. Evan Parker tenor saxophone, John Edwards double bas, Eddie Prévost drums “All Told… is all about movement. Evan […]
The slow-burning success of his 2010 album debut “Holkham Drones” was something of a dream induction into the world of professional music-making for Norfolk’s Luke Abbott. The electronic opus landed in Mojo’s Electronica Albums of 2010’ list, amongst wide-spread critical acclaim. An accompanying live touring schedule has kept Luke and his handcrafted hardware-jams rumbling across the […]
”Dyer’s music has an emotional depth and lyricism that one imagines any newcomer wanting to embrace.” Kevin Le Gendre, Jazzwise
Over two nights (the first having taken place on March 10th), critically acclaimed pianist Bruno Heinen and guitarist Kristian Borring will be recording their duo album live at the Vortex. The project is centered around compositions of the great pianist Bill Evans, arranged by the duo and taking inspiration from Evans’ famous duo recordings with […]
A night of intrepid new music from Berlin and London. HYPERACTIVE KID Philipp Gropper – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone Ronny Graupe – 7 string electric guitar Christian Lillinger – drums HYPERACTIVE KID is a band made up of three musicians currently living in Berlin. They came together in 2003 and since then they have […]
Part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2014
For their EFG London Jazz Festival show Mopomoso have programmed four sets of intrepid music from the freer end of things. Martin Speake (sax) / Mark Sanders (drums, percussion) Martins musical voice expresses a deep understanding of the history and language of jazz, with an individuality as an improviser that’s as intelligent as it […]
Hosted by Hannes Riepler Continuing the long tradition of jazz jam sessions with musicians fine tuning their chops & maybe sparring a little too, the Vortex Jam Session offers the chance to see some truly extraordinary musicians play a relaxed, off the cuff gig. Led by guitarist Hannes Riepler, the atmosphere is playful but the […]
Early session
Admission: Free Part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2014
Tori Handsley Trio Featured in Jazzwise Magazine’s ‘Who to Look out for in 2014’ Composer, arranger and performer, playing pedal, electric and Latin harps. Tori Handsley is renowned for her unique take on the harp. Her contemporary electric-harp led trio draws upon many influences, creating a tapestry of beats and strings with resounding riffs, driven […]
Pianist & composer Lafayette Gilchrist leads genre-defying band The New Volcanoes, while his solo work and trio Inside Out invite adventurous ears everywhere to enter his world. Tonight he’ll be playing with two of the UK’s most established improvisers; Paul Dunmall (saxophone) and Mark Sanders (drums). Lafayette Gilchrist There’s good reason why jazz fans and […]
“It’s edgy music from an original who deserves a bigger stage” John Fordham
Part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2014
Reeds player Finn Peters curates three late night sessions at the Vortex – catch them after the evening concerts. The Independent has described Finn’s music as “nothing like you have ever heard before” so expect the same from these shows! Performing music from his project The Blue Box Diaries, Jason Yarde will be twisting raw […]
Guitarist Hannes Riepler has made his mark on the city’s vibrant jazz scene, not only for his outstanding, inventive guitar skill and freewheeling energy, but as an extraordinarily talented composer. Since moving to London from Austria via studies in Amsterdam in 2006, and the release of his debut album The Brave (Jellymould, 2012), Riepler has […]
Evan Parker’s monthly Vortex residency with the master of free improvisation. Tonight Parker is joined by Sten Sandell (piano), John Edwards (bass) and Paul Lytton (drums). ‘If you’ve ever been tempted by free improvisation, Parker is your gateway drug.’ Stewart Lee Evan Parker A major force in European improvising, Parker has collaborated with everyone from […]
Reeds player Finn Peters curates three late night sessions at the Vortex – catch them after the evening concerts. The Independent has described Finn’s music as “nothing like you have ever heard before” so expect the same from these shows! Prescott is the brainchild of former Stump bassist, Kev Hopper, joined by two formidable musicians: […]
Partisans are coming…
“Restless, almost reckless energy… delirious listening… consistently thrilling.” – BBC Music Magazine
Reeds player Finn Peters curates three late night sessions at the Vortex – catch them after the evening concerts. The Independent has described Finn’s music as “nothing like you have ever heard before” so expect the same from these shows. Tiny Beast are a brand new band from London. Expect hooks, beats and snarls. Josh […]
Following their UK tour and an electrifying 3 night residency at the Vortex in the Spring, Led Bib are back for their final London gig of the year, playing music from ‘The People In Your Neighbourhood’ (Cuneiform) – their ‘Best album so far’ John Fordham, The Guardian. Led Bib are one of the original torch […]
Hafla: an Arabic word, meaning a friendly social gathering, a relaxed meeting of minds, over coffee and dates; a party; a concert.