Storytelling lies at the very heart of Nishla Smith’s music making, and since the release of her critically lauded debut album, the evolving circumstances of her own life have provided the inspiration for the stories that lie at the heart of this new collection.
Archie Kidd is a guitarist and composer from the North East of England, now based in London. His original music combines empathetic harmony with enticing melodic content, underlined by a distinctive compositional and improvisational voice.
Shirley Smart’s Sextet draws on a background of 10 years living in Jerusalem and working with the overlapping worlds of jazz, Arabic, Turkish and North African music. Her music draws upon this rich tapestry of influences to create an evening of vibrant melodies, grooves, swing and lively improvisation.
Rebecka Edlund and Nat Philipps open this year’s first season of the Downstairs Living Room series exploring the sound of new beginnings. Inspired by songs of the folk and jazz worlds.
The exciting and versatile drummer Will Cleasby’s subtle but powerful playing has been heard with a wide variety of high profile artists, including work alongside the likes of acclaimed US trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and Kurt Elling.
“Outstanding” is an overused description but one that’s applied to bassist Orlando le Fleming so consistently that its justification can’t be denied. While living in New York he brought his inimitable personality to work on projects for the likes of Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Antonio Sanchez and many others.
Mopomoso is the UK’s longest running concert series dedicated to freely improvised music!
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Having been making music together in various forms for around 20 years, James and Misha have finally recorded their long-awaited trumpet-and-bass duo project, and for one night only they are launching their album “Moon Beans” here at the Vortex.
Meet Reiss Ellis Beckles: a dynamic saxophonist, composer, and educator. Based in the bustling metropolis of London, Reiss epitomizes versatility and diversity, seamlessly traversing genres from jazz to pop to hip hop with finesse and flair.
Happy Garden is a nature-inspired, 6-piece nu-jazz band blending lush harmonies, organic grooves, and improvisational freedom. Drawing influence from the natural world, their sound fuses elements of Nu jazz, Afro Rhythms, and beautiful soundscapes to create immersive sonic landscapes.
Di-Cysgodion, led by Welsh bass player/composer HUW V WILLIAMS. The line up consists of Mike De Souza and Billy Marrows both on electric guitar, Jay Davis on drums and Huw V Williams completing the line up on electric bass.
Emma Rawicz returns to the Vortex with an exciting new quartet, featuring some of the most exciting improvisers that Europe has to offer. The band is decidedly international, with heavyweights from across France, Denmark, and the UK, and draws on long term creative relationships as well as establishing a brand new band sound.
At the rhythmic epicentre of innovative British jazz is Corrie Dick, a musician and composer specialising in euphoric, sonically-inventive drumming.
Invitation only preview screening of “Nathaniel Dye: Against The Odds” – a short documentary by Cath Longbottom.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Acclaimed American drummer Jeff Williams, a London resident for two decades until recently, returns to the Vortex with his first project as a leader in the UK since moving abroad.
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. First set from…
Emerging from the creative London jazz scene, EMRYS are a trio of unique young artists crafting original jazz music. Drawing from a shared love of Jazz, Classical, Choral and Folk music, their immersive compositions inspire flowing musical landscapes inviting reflection and rediscovery.
The George Johnson quartet is one of the most exciting up and coming talents in UK jazz. With Johnson leading the band on tenor saxophone and composing the bands music, they explore many different styles and navigate contrasting atmospheres throughout their sets.
This month’s Whirlpool night is curated by bassist Oli Fitzgerald. He presents a night of his own original music involving his colleagues.
Karim Saber celebrates the release of his second album “Sundance”
“Sundance” is the second offering from Guitarist, Composer and Bandleader Karim Saber. Recorded in January 2025 it captures the creative period since the release of his debut album “Transmission”
Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music Line-up: Riley Stone-Lonergan – Tenor saxophone Spike Wells – Drums Eddie Myer – Double bass About QOW…
Still Waters was born out a long association and friendship going back 40 years between Henry Lowther and Britain’s premiere bassist Dave Green.
Doors 3:30 PM, Music 4:00 PM – 2 set(s) of music Details to be confirmed!
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, 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.
After a decade-long hiatus, Aquarium return to the stage — the reunion of one of the most distinctive groups to emerge from the UK jazz scene in the last twenty years.
Playing tribute to the Leeds alt-jazz pioneer of the 1980s, alto saxophonist Xero Slingsby (Matthew Coe), this performance will feature special guest Alan Wilkinson (from Xero’s band) playing Xero’s original saxophone.
The Downstairs Living room series presents jazz singer and songwriter Emma Taylor. She brings and intimate selection of tunes, drawing from her favourite songwriters in duo form with pianist and composer John Haslam.
Tom is delving into the world of synths – a lifelong love of his being given the full solo treatment in a forward-thinking and endlessly inventive setup.
Join a collective of musicians who met through the Vortex jazz club in imagining future standards
Tony Kofi & 52nd Street: a new project which explores the beginnings of bebop, when New York’s 52nd Street was buzzing with the new music and the first generation of modern jazz musicians was turning the music world on its head.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Having played together for over 15 years, recorded albums together like as Dreamlife of Debris (ECM), toured all over Europe, Kit and Tom are now working on new material in evolving new constellations.
The Fabrice Tarel Quartet makes its first UK visit with a programme of lyrical, contemporary jazz – known for its melodic depth and rhythmic finesse.
The trio will be performing a soulful mix of jazz, Brazilian and blues standards made famous by Betty Carter, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Jobim and more.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Alexander Hawkins is a composer, pianist, organist, and bandleader who is ‘unlike anything else in modern creative music’, described by Point of Departure as ‘an early 21st century pioneer…a musician with frightening resources’.
Join us for the launch of Billy’s third album, ‘Dancing On Bentwood Chairs’, his first with long-standing quartet, the Billy Marrows Band.
On album lunch day, Niklas Lukassen brings his program Still Waters to the Vortex in a stellar line up of creatives he has worked with in contrasting ensembles. His highly anticipated band leader debut release on Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Heartcore Records, is a radiant display of his combined talents as a bassist, composer and vocalist.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.
Filomena Campus returns to The Vortex with a passionate musical journey that blends music and improvisation with spoken word, masks, and comic sketches.
ELEPHANT is a quartet led by the Brooklyn-born-and-bred composer Adam O’Farrill, featuring Yvonne Rogers on piano, prepared piano, and synthesizer, Walter Stinson on double bass, Russell Holzman on drums.
Local & Live in Hackney is a collective of local musicians and artists supporting performers and celebrating the diverse musical traditions of Hackney and East London.
Before leaving the UK for a European tour Henry Spencer comes to the Vortex. He launched his latest album ‘The Defector’ (“A masterpiece” – Jazz in Europe) following international touring, TV and radio broadcasts and the increase of audiences and followers worldwide.
Join a collective of musicians who met through the Vortex jazz club in imagining future standards
Howling Silence is the powerful new album from Russian and Paris-based saxophonist Olga Amelchenko. Marking a pivotal moment in her artistic journey, the record embodies the emotional depths of personal struggle and the nuanced complexities of living between worlds.
Nick Malcolm’s new trio is a joyous celebration of favourite composers whose tunes he loves to play – in loving imitation of canonical tenor/bass/drums trios.
In this cross-continental collaboration, acclaimed Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz joins piano-star Ivo Neame from London, US sax legend Greg Osby and topnotch bassist Orlando De Fleming to launch ‚Conversation_LAB’.