Downes/Cunningham/Challenger/Williams/Lisle
Like minded improvises meeting again for the second time downstairs at the vortex for responsibly controlled chaos.
Like minded improvises meeting again for the second time downstairs at the vortex for responsibly controlled chaos.
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.
Featuring Sacha Harlan (drums), Tom Challenger (tenor saxophone), Caius Williams (double bass) & Tom O’Brien (piano)
Join us for an unforgettable night of jazz as two of London’s premier saxophonists, Denys Baptiste and Tony Kofi, reunite to present a powerful new project.
Emerging from the Vortex’s Future Standards community, the quintet returns with an afternoon set of original compositions. Blending a diverse range of styles and influences – from hard bop and Third Stream to reggae and drum & bass – this is a chance to experience the beating heart of East London’s new jazz scene. Featuring Santiago Horro on bass, Eric Lounsbury on trumpet and flugelhorn, Drummond Moir on guitar, Paulina Szczepaniak on drums and Cheng Xie on piano.
The return of legendary British trumpet player Henry Lowther and his ‘Still Waters’ band feat. Pete Hurt (tenor saxophone), Barry Green (piano), Dave Green (double bass) and Paul Clarvis (drums).
“Vortex Lates” is a series of events taking place in our downstairs bar on 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.
This month featuring: Gwendolyn Kassenaar with Hyelim Kim & Maurizio Ravalico + Homecoming: Laure van Minden with Michelle Brace &Chris Dowding + Jakub Rokita, Tomasz Glazik & Viv Corringham
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.
Cellist, composer and MacArthur Fellow Tomeka Reid explores new improvisational math with 3+3, the third release by her all-star quartet and her most adventurous project as a leader yet. Featuring Jason Roebke on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, and fellow MacArthur Fellow Mary Halvorson on guitar.
Cellist, composer and MacArthur Fellow Tomeka Reid explores new improvisational math with 3+3, the third release by her all-star quartet and her most adventurous project as a leader yet. Featuring Jason Roebke on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, and fellow MacArthur Fellow Mary Halvorson on guitar.
Tonight, Lucid Dreamers are launching their much-anticipated 3rd album. Led by celebrated vocalist Brigitte Beraha, and drawing from jazz, folk, contemporary classical, free improv and electronic sound-worlds, the brilliant quartet improvises with spontaneity and playfulness, using Brigitte’s compositions as a vehicle. Expect exciting grooves and impactful stillness, atmospheric, entrancingly ethereal, drop-dead beautiful music.
Webster and Lisle’s energetic free jazz meets Larsen and Goller’s post-rock, noise guitars in an exciting interaction that is dynamic, playful and hard-hitting.
Pete Horsfall launches ELECTRIC RELAXATION, his first record on the Banger Factory label, with this special show. Influences from Duke Ellington to MF DOOM collide, in a set that showcases Pete’s deep and explosive engagement with the jazz, classical and hiphop traditions.
Finn Genockey is a jazz drummer, composer and bandleader based in London. Since starting drums at the age of 6, Finn has had plenty of experience performing regularly with some of the most notable jazz artists such as Rufus Reid and Stan Sulzmann
Reimagining jazz repertoire for the 21st century.
Saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes leads MY IRIS, an intense and thrilling quartet with Ross Stanley (piano / Hammond organ), Chris Montague (guitar) and Joel Barford (drums). Dedicated to exploration and adroit writing, Clowes provides her bandmates with a unique platform for individual expression and group interplay, delivering driving grooves and lingering melodic lines, seamlessly morphing between earthy restlessness and futuristic dreamscapes.
“Vortex Lates” is a series of events taking place in our downstairs bar on 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.
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.
Musician and composer Alasdair Pennington has in recent years established himself as a distinct and creative voice on the drum kit within the vibrant London jazz and improvised music scenes. ‘This Is’, Pennington’s debut album was released in October 2024 on Hidden Threads Records and described by Jazz Journal as “a highly listenable collection which in places harks back to the sound of American jazz from the 50s and 60s”.
Anna Chandler-King brings an intimate and deeply emotional set of intricately arranged music written around the passing of her mother, and a nonet comprised of some of her favourite musicians that were there for her when she needed them.
Pianist and Dankworth prize-winning composer Lior Solomons-Wise brings his quartet to the Vortex for an evening of captivating original music
Guitarist Hannes Riepler returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring George Crowley (sax), Freddie Jensen (double bass) & James Maddren (drums).
A special gig which will mark the launch of Tom’s new live album recorded as part of the London Jazz Festival 2024.
Danny is a British-Spanish jazz pianist and composer based in London, rapidly emerging as one of the rising stars of his generation. Tonight Danny’s trio is joined by special guest and jazz titan Steve Williamson, a trailblazer who has been described as “one of the most distinctive saxophone voices in contemporary British jazz”.
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.
Mongolian singer Enji presents her newest album Sonor which explores questions of identity and belonging through metaphoric language, vigilant and always hopeful. On stage, Enji performs her new songs in the familiar trio lineup with River Adomeit on bass and co-composer Paul Brändle on guitar.
Introducing “Small Flame,” the enchanting debut solo album from jazz singer and songwriter Nel Begley. This captivating collection of songs has a sound reminiscent of Chet Baker’s easy style and Norah Jones song writing, creating a contemplative and playful listening experience.
A UK jazz super group, Out Front originally formed to play the music of two of jazz’s greatest ‘inside-outside’ composers; Booker Little and Andrew Hill. With roots anchored in the the music of these two masters, they now present sets of entirely original music, composed by multiple members of the band. Tonight’s gig at the Vortex will be the official launch of their debut album ‘Buried Webs’.
Described by the Guardian as “eclectic, eccentric and unobtrusively erudite”, Bruno Heinen is professor of jazz piano and composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. His trio tonight features Mercury Music Prize Nominated, fiery bass sensation Tom Herbert and London-based New Yorker Gene Calderazzo on drums, a leading figure on the international jazz scene.
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.
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.
Kelvin is a new project convened by Dominic Lash to explore some of the lesser-known compositions by Anthony Braxton. Braxton, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, is one of the most important musicians working at the interface of jazz, creative improvisation, and notated music: he calls himself a “trans-idiomatic performer”.
Award winning pianist and composer Reuben Goldmark leads his trio in a Live EP Recording. Fresh from recording their debut album earlier this year, the band will be premiering new compositions whilst reinventing their back catalogue. The concert will be recorded by Grammy-nominated engineer Sonny Johns and will serve as the foundation for an upcoming EP release.
About Join us for a fun-filled day of learning and jamming at the Vortex! The Nick Costley-White Trio will be leading interactive workshops for young jazz enthusiasts looking to hone their…
Guitarist Tom Ollendorff returns to the Vortex this October with an all-star trio as part of his highly anticipated album release world tour.
Guitarist Tom Ollendorff returns to the Vortex this October with an all-star trio as part of his highly anticipated album release world tour.
Anyone familiar with Matthew Field will know that staying in one lane isn’t really what he does. As the driving creative force behind Beatenberg, he’s helped shape a whole new music lexicon. Over two albums, the Cape Town-based trio alchemised a new global sound, fusing modern pop production with complex rhythms, lilting indie rock and folk. His work with South African pop maverick Tresor, meanwhile, showed he could take his magpie approach and ear for a winning melody into a whole new sphere.
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.
Emanuele Filippi is an Italian pianist, composer, and bandleader based in New York. His project Carousel replaces the double bass with bass clarinet, creating lyrical, contrapuntal soundscapes where dreamy atmospheres meet bold experimentation.
Gwilym Jones debuts a new piano trio featuring visionary pianist Bruno Heinen and master bassist Larry Bartley. This new band explores the more obscure corners of Thelonious Monk’s collection of compositions, presenting interpretations of rarely heard deep cuts from Monk’s library.
Tim Berne brings a new trio to London featuring himself on alto saxophone, Gregg Belisle-Chi on guitar and Tom Rainey on drums; this is the trio that recorded the incredible Yikes Too album.
Tim Berne brings a new trio to London featuring himself on alto saxophone, Gregg Belisle-Chi on guitar and Tom Rainey on drums; this is the trio that recorded the incredible Yikes Too album.
About Join us for a fun-filled day of learning and jamming at the Vortex! The Nick Costley-White Trio will be leading interactive workshops for young jazz enthusiasts looking to hone their…
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.
Award-winning tenor saxophonist Harben Kay celebrates the release of their third album, The World I Live In — out October 3 — a powerful reflection on change and the creativity that emerges in times of transformation.
Rwandan-born Belgian vocalist and composer Ineza presents IBUKA, her debut album of original music that blends contemporary jazz with neo-soul and folk. Her sound is defined by vibrant harmonies and intimate storytelling, with voice and saxophone in constant conversation. The band’s improvisation adds immediacy and vitality to every performance.
Asha Parkinson makes a rare London appearance with a cut down version of her Kalpadruma ensemble. This sextet line-up features saxophone, qanun, piano, bass, drums, and voice. The group weaves together jazz, Mediterranean, Arabic, and chamber music traditions, creating a space where music crosses cultural boundaries and explores the universal search for love, devotion, and human connection.
Almost three years to the day, one of Ireland’s improvising masters Paul G. Smyth returns with the incomparable pairing of John Edwards and Mark Sanders, marking their 10th anniversary as a trio.