The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8JH | Bookings 020 7254 4097 | Enquiries 020 7993 3643 | Email Info at Vortex

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Concessionary rates

A reduction of £2 (on the door price shown), from Monday to Thursday inclusive only, for members of:
- The National Union of Students
- Musicians Union
- unemployed

Please note that concessionary tickets can only be purchased at the door and proof of identity will be required.

Doors open 8pm

All gigs start at 8.45pm (approx) unless shown otherwise.

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June 2008 gigs

Online booking not yet available for all gigs. Coming soon...

Sunday 1 | Doors 7.30pm – starts 8.00pm | £8

Vocals@Vortex

Open mic hosted by Romy Summers with The Bob Stuckey Trio.

Kate Hughes

Kate trained as a classical singer/pianist and currently performs and writes with her band 'Dworkin' who are performing at the Edinburgh Festival this year.

Mandy Eugeniou

Fascinated with the deep sonic quality and vocal challenge in ‘Rembetiko’ music – the blues of the Anatolian East – Mandy Eugeniou infuses melodies with full-hearted passion, and positive synergy.

Monday 2 | 8.45pm | £8 |

Round Trip

Featuring some of London's new crop of young jazz musicians.This gig is the final gig of a three week long UK tour and will be recorded for the group's first record.

Richard Turner (trumpet) – 'Distinctive rhythmic imagination' (John Forham – The Guardian), Tom Challenger (tenor saxophone) – 'One of my forecast tips for the top in 2008' (thisislondon.co.uk), Tom Farmer (bass) – 'Performing with astonishing musical maturity' (Warwick Arts Centre) and Josh Morrison (drums) – 'Burning' (mostpeoplesopinion.com)

Tuesday 3 | 8.45pm | £8

Jason Yarde – Trio WAH

One of the most exciting names on London's jazz scene, ex-Jazz Warrior reedsman Jason Yarde is a lauded composer, arranger and producer. He's capable of writing for huge ensembles – like his Acoustic Bombastic band – but tonight will be a chance to hear his lean, mean side as he lets rip in a trio with bassist Larry Bartley and drummer Mike Pickering. Expect spacious funk and contemporary jazz grooves.

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McCormack/Yarde Duo

New duo with the great young pianist, BBC Jazz Awards Rising Star 2006 – Andrew McCormack. 'An impressive representation of modern, tough and rigorous UK jazz. An intrepid pianist on the Herbie side of contemporary. Not a note is wasted. Excitement and economy in hypnotising balance' (MOJO).

Wednesday 4 | 8.45pm | £8

Bourne, Davis, Kane

The antidote to the stereotypical image of po-faced improvising musicians. Pianist Matthew Bourne is chiefly celebrated for his solo performances, during which he is likely to dazzle and amuse by means of witty interjections into his recitals of everything from film themes to classical snippets.

A seriously accomplished pianist whose bustling all over the keyboard is balanced by the most tender, subtlest expression, he gives the impression of only having failed at stand-up comedy through absent-mindedness.

But operating in a trio with like minds, bassist Dave Kane and drummer Stephen Davis, he ploughs a slightly straighter furrow. True, there are passages of sporadic communal humming and odd bursts of musical banter, but for the most part, written passages frequently provide the springboard for collective improvisation.

Thursday 5 | 8.45pm | £free

Royal Academy of Music Night

End of Year Recitals

A unique opportunity to hear the next generation of UK jazz from the Royal Acadamy of Music final year students.

Friday 6 | 8.45pm | £10 |

Lifeforce Muzic and BrazenBunch present 'Lifeforce'

Joint tour de force presenting journeys through jazz, soul, folk, and blues and everything in between.

A unique opportunity to see a lineup of the most innovative of established and emerging artists backed by the Lifeforce Band. Modern instruments such as the violectra and electronic loopers, and traditional instruments such as the kalimba and steel pan, will feature during the series of events that show music has no boundaries.

Guest artists:

Mellow Baku

Mellow Baku has featured as a vocalist for the Soothsayers, collaborated with Courtney Pine on a remix of Black Coffee, and featured on Michie One's album alongside Jimmy Cliff.

Andreya Triana

Andreya has embarked on a solo career performing emotive songs and has previously performed in front of 20,000 people at Live8 with her then band Bootis.

Abdul Shyllon

Original singer/songwriter who has featured on Mark de Clive-Lowe’s album and on tracks by Sinbad and Supersonic Revelation.

Enitan

Enitan has collaborated and backed various artists such as Loose Ends, Terri Walker, Don-e, MC Ni and Dawn Joseph to name a few.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Ayanna is a unique, captivating and talented young composer, song-writer, vocalist, cellist and pianist who has worked with Jason Yarde, Courtney Pine, Nitin Sawhney and Soul II Soul.

Lacey Adigwu

Lacey is a singer/songwriter who delivers poignant and emotive songs and spoken word, and has performed alongside Teish O'Day and Hil St Soul.

Guest Musicians...

Robin Hopcraft and Idris Rahman (Soothsayers)

The pair have played with a range of African artists and reggae stars like Junior Delgado, Rico Rodriguez, Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks and Realworld’s Ayub Ogada, as well as pop acts such as Stereo MCs and cutting edge jazz groups such as The Zoe Rahman Quartet, Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra and Seb Rochford’s Polar Bear.

Artists subject to change. For up to date info please go to:
www.myspace.com/lifeforceband
www.myspace.com/brazenbunch
www.brazenbunch.com

Saturday 7 | 8.45pm | £12

Ian Shaw

Named 'Best Jazz Vocalist' at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2007 and 2004, the UK’s premier male vocalist, Ian Shaw doing what he does best: singing solo (or with hand-picked accompanists, such as guitarist Dave Preston), drink in hand, in a relaxed, intimate setting.

The onstage patter, enlightening, witty, occasionally wickedly scurrilous, would be worth the price of admission alone, but Shaw is also a superb performer of both other people’s songs and his own, intimate snapshots, as featured on his latest self-penned album – ‘Lifejacket' – ‘A suite of stories recalling friendships past and present, childhood dreams and dodgy Soho nights’ (Jazzwise March 2008).

Sunday 8 | 8.45pm | £3 (musicians free)

JazzArc Jam Session

Featuring Brandon Allen (tenor sax), Ross Stanley (piano), John Allen (double bass) and Julian Saul (drums). ‘An exciting collective of up-and-coming London-based musicians’ (Time Out).

Monday 9 | 8.45pm | £8

Paula Rae Gibson

An all round artist, equally at home in the worlds of music, photography and poetry, Paula Rae Gibson creates songs that evoke an ethereal world of haunting intimacy. With a crystalline voice that switches between low confessional tones to fragile highs, all three disciplines – singing, photography and film-making – combine to produce an immersive live experience.

Performing material from the new album ‘Maybe Too Nude’, out now on the Babel Label. Featuring Tom Pilling (piano) and Richard Bolton (guitar and cello). ‘Up there with PJ Harvey’s recent collection for melancholy’ (Time Out).

Tuesday 10 | 8.30pm | £8

In Cahoots Sextet

A lot of names have passed through the ranks of In Cahoots – Richard Sinclair, Elton Dean, Pip Pyle and Hugh Hopper, to name but a few.

And that's not to neglect the man whose name prefaces In Cahoots these days – Phil Miller – who first came to prominence as part of the Canterbury scene way back, when he did a stint in Matching Mole, before heading off to Hatfield and the North and then National Health before the emergence of In Cahoots back in 1982.

Tonight the sextet features Phil Miller (guitar), Gail Brand (trombone), Simon Picard (saxophone), Pete Lemer (keyboards), Fred Baker (bass) and Mark Fletcher (drums).

Wednesday 11 | 8.45pm | £8

Dan Ecclestone Band

Dan’s music reflects his love of film soundtracks, American minimalism, 1970’s progressive rock, and electronica as well as the classic collaborations of Gil Evans and Miles Davis.

As with anyone, the influences are diverse but the objective is singular: to create something that is honest and personal... modern, perhaps, but more importantly sincere.

Graeme Flowers (trumpet), Jamie Michael Harris (sax, flute), Dan Ecclestone (piano), Gareth Huw Davies (double bass) and Thierry Deneux (drums).

Thursday 12 | 8.45pm | £8

Parker/Edwards/Marsh

Saxophone colossus Evan Parker in free improvisation with long-time associates bassist John Edwards and drummer Tony Marsh. 'The opportunity to return to the same place with the same musicians and yet with the hope of finding something new each time is one of the great challenges for improvisers' (Evan Parker).

Friday 13 | 8.45pm | £10

Finn Peters Finntet

Playing material from the new album 'Butterflies' released on 12 May on Accidental Records.

Peters is one of the UK's top innovators on both saxophone and flute, with an already envious musical CV including a long-standing association with North London's esteemed F-IRE Collective.

Butterflies takes a more measured, reflective tone than some of his earlier work. However, as meditative as Finn's music gets, he never lets go of the essential elements of strong melodies, solid rhythms and intelligent harmonic interplays.

'His is a voice in British jazz to be reckoned with' (Jazzwise).

Saturday 14 | 8.45pm | £12

Amit Chaudhuri - 'This is Not Fusion'

Vortex and Peter Lang Publishers present Amit Chaudhuri – 'This is Not Fusion'. Following his sellout concert at the Vortex last year, the acclaimed musician and novelist returns with his musicians to present his amazing Indian version of jazz, 'This Is Not Fusion'.

Bringing together Indian music with rock, jazz, and the blues – 'Chaudhuri creates a striking metaphor for the modern Indian sensibility' (Ivan Hewitt, Daily Telegraph) – this repertoire has travelled the world to wonderful responses.

The occasion this time is the launch of his new book of essays, 'Clearing a Space'.

Sunday 15 | 8.45pm | £7/4

Mopomoso

This month’s not to be missed concert from Mopomoso is an intriguing mix of old and new with some of the best improvisers on the scene.

The Rick Jensen Quartet

This promises to be a lively set. New Zealander Rick Jensen has been making a name for himself around the London scene for the last couple of years and we are delighted to have him play for the first time at Mopomoso. Rick Jensen (saxophone/clarinet), Phil Somervell (piano), Colin Somervell (bass) and Paul May (percussion),

Barrett/Wassermann

Richard Barrett (live electronics), Ute Wassermann (voice), are two of the foremost new music creators around. Richard is a renowned composer and improvisor combining a quick wit with a creative excellence second to none. In a meeting with the astonishing mezzo soprano Ute Wassermann, who stunned the audience of the first Mopomoso night at the Vortex.

Lowther/Russell duo

Henry Lowther (trumpet) and John Russell (guitar) are well known to Mopomoso audiences. A superlative trumpeter, Henry Lowther may be best known in 'straight' settings but his meetings with guitarist John Russell never fail to produce music of exquisite poise and beauty. An absolute delight.

Monday 16 | 8.45pm | £7

Kaz Simmons

Singer and guitarist Kaz Simmons performs songs from the recent album 'Different Smile' as well as brand new originals and Brazilian gems.

Singing confessionally intimate, jazz/folk-tinged songs, Kaz brings a graceful charm and insinuating ease to her music that melts in the ear. 'A shining future for her is assured.' (Musician Magazine).

With Sam Crockatt (tenor sax), Ivo Neame (keys), Simon Thorpe (bass) and Dave Smith (drums).

Tuesday 17 | 8.45pm | £8

Vox City 5

Vox City 5 is a unique group featuring two vocalists – Nia Lynn and Malcolm Earle-Smith (also featured on trombone). They are currently promoting their new CD ‘things are looking up’, a stylistically varied and swinging album of original material and distinctive arrangements of standards. Featuring Barry Green, Dave Whitford and Gary Willcox in the rhythm section, this promises to be an exciting and entertaining evening.

‘…at times their two voices sound like four, and the improvising from both singers is exciting’ (Lee Gibson). 

Thursday 19 | 8.45pm | £8

Noble/Batchelor/Marshall/Sanders

A new ensemble featuring Liam Noble piano, Chris Batchelor trumpet/electronics, Hannah Marshall (cello) and Mark Sanders (drums). Genre slashing punk, chamber, popular song, jazz, kitchen sink drama. 'Liam Noble is a subtle and powerful player with a highly original musical mind' (Chris Parker).

Friday 20 | 8.45pm | £7 | Book online

electroacoustic club

These United States

Garage-folk has never sounded so good – anthems for ghost towns, dirt roads and late night drives with the windows down.

'... a sound that's sort of alt-country and sort of late-'60s Laurel Canyon (and much more Gram Parsons than the Eagles)... well-crafted, toe-tapping tunes written by frontman Jesse Elliott' (Washington Post).

Vandaveer

Vandaveer is the partly sunny, mostly cloudy, town-folk, city-pop song and dance routine penned by Washington DC-based songsmith Mark Charles. 'Grace & Speed,' Vandaveer's debut record, earned stellar reviews and comparisons to Donovan, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Tom Waits.

Vandaveer has enjoyed the good fortune of performing up and down the east coast and beyond with a host of humbling artists, including Vashti Bunyan, Alejandro Escovedo, Smog, The Ditty Bops, Vetiver, Joan As Policewoman.'

'You may not yet know the name Mark Charles, but you should. When he's not tearing it up with The Apparitions, he's creating well-crafted modern folk music under the moniker Vandaveer. Grace & Speed is superb from start to finish, showing [Vandaveer]'s gift for storytelling and sense of economy' (Performing Songwriter Magazine).

Plus special guests.

Saturday 21 | 8.45pm | £12

Barb Jungr

The UK’s top song stylist, Barb Jungr commands one of the most hypnotically affecting voices in the business and always delivers absorbing, dramatic performances, drawing on sources as varied as Jacques Brel, Bob Dylan, Ray Davies and Elvis!

Supported on piano by Jenny Carr, her choice of material, splendid voice and intelligence with a lyric are impressive enough, but add her charm and easy informality with an audience, and you've got an unbeatable evening's entertainment.

Sunday 22

Closed

Monday 23 | 8.45pm | £8

Disassembler

Guitarist Trevor Warren's Disassembler combines the rhythms of modern dance music with a jazz line-up of improvising live musicians. The eponymous album, released in 2005, received rave reviews and the new album – ‘Fear is the Mother of Violence’ (33 Records) – represents a new departure for the band with new instruments and samples adding texture to their sound. Disassembler gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the PRS Foundation and Jazz Services.

'…(one of) the premier contemporary jazz units in Britain…' ( John Kelman Allaboutjazz.com).

Tuesday 24 | 8.45pm | £8

Twelves Trio

Playing a mixture of original material and improvisations. The band inhabit a similar area to Don cherry, the New York Contempory Five, Rob Brown and the William Parker Quartet but have a distinctly English take on the sound through the evocative use of folk melodies and dance grooves.

Featuring Mark Hanslip (tenor), Riaan Vosloo (double bass) and Tim Giles (drums).

The twelves trios debut album: 'Here comes the woodman with his splintered soul' comes out in summer 2008 on 1965 records.

Wednesday 25 | 8.45pm | £8

Richard Fairhurst – Triptych

Triptych are a new piano trio led by pianist/composer Richard Fairhurst with Jasper Hoiby (bass) and Chris Vatalaro –(drums).

'Richard Fairhurst, playing in a fresh context, with Danish bassist Jasper Høiby and American drummer Chris Vatalaro forming his rhythm section demonstrated that he is indeed a 'keyboard virtuoso capable of both meditation and funkiness' with a set of characteristically vigorous, muscularly catchy originals laced with lyricism.

Høiby was suitably propulsive in his supporting role and eloquently melodic when soloing; Vatalaro combined, as always, robust power with considerable delicacy, utilising the entire array of sticks, mallets and brushes to obtain precisely the right cymbal or drum sound. Unpretentiously adventurous music’ (Chris Parker, Vortex Jazz Club)

Thursday 26 | 8.45pm | £7

Bruise

We are delighted to offer a home to another project displaced by the closure of The Red Rose. Bruise was an integral part of the 'Back in your town' concerts and, over a period of five years, developed an utterly distinctive group sound peforming improvisations which vere between minimalist delicacy and an intense passionate roar – with guests including Louis Moholo, Matthew Bourne and the late Derek Bailey.

For this, the first in a series of bi-monthly concerts, the original line-up of saxophonist Tony Bevan, John Edwards (bass), Ashley Wales (electronics) and Orphy Robinson (multi-instrumentalist) will be joined by special guest trumpeter Tom Arthurs. Unmissable!

Friday 27 | 8.45pm | £10

Barcode Trio

Jack Pescod (piano), Matt Pescod (bass) and Chris McCartney (drums). ‘Their music recalls the party groovism of Ramsey Lewis, the lighter side of Keith Jarrett and the pop-crossover fizz of Esbjorn Svensson’ (John L Walters, The Guardian).

Saturday 28 | 8.45pm | £12

Bobby Wellins Quartet

An elegant and iconic saxophonist, Bobby Wellins is best known for his collaboration with Stan Tracey on the seminal 1965 British jazz album Under Milk Wood and is one of the finest melodic saxophonists in the world belonging to that exclusive breed of jazz musicians who are recognisable within two or three notes. 'Wellins has one of the most beautiful tenor saxophone sounds in the history of the instrument' (The Observer).

Kate Williams is a pianist described by Dave Gelly in The Observer as 'A worthy addition to the ranks of British jazz composer-pianists, Kate Williams has the knack of making a simple trio or quartet sound much bigger. She does this not by creating sound and fury, but through a wonderful ever-changing variety of harmony and texture.'

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Bobby Wellins/ Kate Williams Duo

Sunday 29 | 8.45pm | £8

Phronesis

Interactive, climactic music growing naturally from the considerable individual strengths of its three participants – bassist Jasper Hoiby, pianist Ivo Neame and drummer Patrick Davey.

The trio plays around with repetition to emphasise and dramatise change when and if it finally occurs. Accordingly, sparked by a repeated – but not necessarily simple bass figure, the band feel their way into a groove, slowly shifting its emphasis and altering its dynamics as they go, until all its many and varied possibilities have been explored.

Hoiby is not only a remarkable and subtle bassist, his playing propulsive yet flawlessly melodic where required, but he's also a notable composer.

Monday 30 | 8.30pm | £9

Gypsy / East European Night

Paprika Balkanicus

We are delighted to welcome back to the Vortex the incomparable Paprika Balkanicus. 'Taking the world by the ears' – this band brings together high-energy, virtuoso gypsy and Balkan music with irresistible showmanship.

From silky-smooth tones to lightning-speed arpeggios, violinist Bogdan Vacarescu's blurred fingers conjour some of the most beautiful and passionate melodies ever written for violin. With Vladimir Jocic (guitar), Jozef 'Teets' Secnik (bass) and Zivorad Nikolic (accordion).

'Masters of good atmosphere!' (BalkanUK.com)

 

 

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