New Whirlpool curators for 2024/25. 1st concert 24 October 2024
The Vortex is happy to announce the curators in the forthcoming year’s cohort for its Whirlpool series. The first concert will be on 24 October. Further concerts take place on […]
The Whirlpool Series
A monthly series of gigs for recent London jazz graduates at the Vortex. Newly graduated jazz musicians may be overwhelmed at how to take their first independent steps as professional […]
Martin Davidson
Oliver Weindling writes: Martin Davidson, who died just before Christmas aged 81, was a hero for this music. Perhaps not so famous as a name, but many who love improvised […]
Jon RB. A tribute and CD collection details
Oliver Weindling writes: Jon RB was a very special person for our jazz community. Jazz seemed to keep him going (as well as good beer). I first met him in […]
Gboyega Odubanjo and Katya Kan
Gboyega Odubanjo (1997-2023) and Katya Kan (1988-2023) Poet Gboyega Odubanjo tragically died in early September 2023. He was known to us at the Vortex, through his performances downstairs and […]
News and Grooves, 21 April
COMING UP AT THE VORTEX! FRIDAY 21 APRIL – THURSDAY 27 APRIL To enjoy jazz in general, and at the Vortex in particular, is an adventure. The musicians are like […]
News and Grooves, 14 April
FRIDAY 14 APRIL – THURSDAY 20 APRIL A good week at the Vortex is one where quality and imagination act as a glue between a great diversity of groups. And […]
Brian Blain (1929-2022)
Oliver Weindling writes: It’s very sad for all in the jazz world to hear about the death of Brian Blain. In reaching the venerable age of 92, he had been […]
Ray Carless RIP
Ray was a true genius and one of those performers whom we were so delighted to welcome to the Vortex. As a genius on the saxophone is indisputable. But also […]
Sound Engineer Training, February 2022
The Vortex Jazz Club is arranging an introductory course for six would-be sound engineers, starting in February. It would involve 4 days of instruction by our lead sound engineer Louis Huddle, as […]
Jazz for the planet
We are happy to show a concert recorded by Tällberg Foundation with a stellar line-up including Joe Lovano. Watch and enjoy. Jazz defies convention through adaptability and improvisation, generating that […]
Supporting Cuban musicians
Income from two releases on Loz Speyer’s Spherical Records label will go directly to help musicians in Santiago de Cuba. https://spherical-records.bandcamp.com/album/roots-en-route-raices-en-viaje https://spherical-records.bandcamp.com/album/clave-sin-embargo This is because, as a result of the […]
Charlie Watts – Vortex Foundation patron
Oliver Weindling writes: Charlie Watts was a jazz drummer at heart. Apparently, he only started as a drummer with R&B band The Rolling Stones to fill in only until something […]
“Freedom day”: a message from the Vortex management
Although the government is lifting Covid restrictions from Monday 19th July, the Vortex is taking a gradual approach to re-opening. Like everyone else we want to get back to business-as-normal […]
Brian Bointon
Brian was a volunteer and a night manager at the Vortex for several years. Very thoughtful and always encouraging. We knew that he had taught at London Met and was […]
Words and Art
Since April 2020, Nicki Heinen has been organising monthly Words and Art online. Poetry from Nicki and special guests, with art created simultaneously by Aurelie Freoua. Here is some of […]
Sonia Slany 1965-2021
It was our good fortune at the Vortex, and mine too, to meet Sonia Slany, who died recently, initially through Paul Clarvis. A calming influence on the exuberant? Perhaps she […]
John Russell 1954-2021
Oliver Weindling pays tribute to John Russell For more than a decade, John Russell’s Mopomoso have been stalwarts of the Vortex. Curated on shoestring (as he frequently reminded one), every […]
Echo in the Bones; Review by Kevin Le Gendre
Echo In The Bones (composer: Renell Shaw, producer: Kathianne Hingwan) At the height of lockdown this summer, in the brave new world of zoom and remote recording, Renell Shaw’s […]
The Vortex Is Now Closed to the Public
Given the restrictions on music venues imposed as part of the new national lockdown, the Vortex will not be able to continue with live performances at the club in front […]