1 May
1926 was a seminal year for jazz. Not just for the actual music that year, such as the Louis Armstrong Hot Five recordings, but because it was the birth year of two of its most influential musicians – Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Together they made the most successful jazz album of all time, “Kind of Blue”, but there is probably no trumpeter who hasn’t been affected by Davis, nor any saxophonist by Coltrane. However, their influences go much further. How they absorbed styles from other genres such as pop, or even serial techniques in the case of Coltrane, and made them listenable. Outside the US, it was incidentally the year of birth of Stan Tracey, a regular at the Vortex during his later life, and whose “Under Milk Wood” recording is often cited as the most important UK jazz album of all time.
8 May
The Vortex is a venue which is based around the principles of trust, tolerance and respect. This is as much between musicians but also with the audience. Perhaps this comes from the nature of jazz as a music which relies on musicians interacting with each other and responding to each other. Certainly it is rare at the Vortex to have music where the musicians used as pawns, politically ethically or morally. This can be seen in the variety of styles and diversity of musicians that we encourage at the club, such as the regular Queer Jazz nights, this month on Saturday 15 May. Long may this continue!
15 May
Creative activity, be it active or more passive in nature including going to gigs at least once a week, leads to people ageing more slowly, in the same way as physical exercise. So this recently published research from University College London is a good justification for coming to the Vortex! It also suggests that reducing support for the arts over recent years over here has been retrogressive? Music is not a luxury.
22 May
“The only truth is music.” A powerful sentence from Jack Kerouac, writer of On The Road. We feel this responsibility at the Vortex. When you come to the club, be it upstairs or down, for musicians of all ages, gender and race, and irrespective of style, we try to ensure that they are committed to this. So, by coming to the club, you’ll be encouraged to think, respond and feel inspired. And that can of course also be very satisfying. Which is probably what being entertained is partly about? Check out the gigs and come along. You, our customers, keep us going. And, of course, if you want to be even more helpful, you can become a member or a volunteer.
29 May
“Where words leave off music begins.” Thus wrote German poet Heinrich Heine, known for being a great radical in the first half of the 19th century. So, music sends us perhaps to a higher plane. That is certainly a great thing to be able to enjoy in the uncertain world that we’re in. To invoke him, therefore, is also advice that, after reading this, you should go straight off and book yourself a A few gigs to enjoy at the Vortex!
4 June
“Not every jazz musician worships god, but every jazz musician worships Miles Davis.” The original quote, on which this is based, may actually have been about Johann Sebastian Bach, but the sentiment in this music is the same. Miles Davis is the Johann Sebastian Bach of jazz, born 100 years ago last week. He was open to, and absorbed at different times, all styles of jazz, from bebop through to jazz infused with funk and hip hop by the time of his death. And this openness is also a hallmark of the Vortex. We try not to be too narrow in our choice of bands and genres. But whether it be vocal jazz, melodic post bop or more “thoughtful” improvisation, you as an audience member can feel reassured that you’re coming to hear music at its best. No makeweights allowed!
11 June
“At the moment when the birds awake each day all is well.”
The quote by the 19th century German poet Friedrich Hölderlin captures the quiet optimism found in nature’s daily renewal. Live jazz at the Vortex can evoke a similar feeling: gathering to hear music created in the moment by musicians giving their all, surrounded by fellow listeners, offers a reminder that beauty, creativity and human connection endure. In today’s uncertain times, when so much can feel unpredictable or divisive, these shared experiences become even more important: Live music is restorative: it gives us a chance to be present, to listen, and to connect with one another. We look forward to seeing you soon – to be uplifted.
25 June
WE ARE AIR CONDITIONED FOR UPSTAIRS VENUE! But check about downstairs gigs in this heat.
For more than a century, new technologies have been predicted to replace the live concert—from radio and records to television, downloads and now streaming. Yet audiences need to continue to seek out live music. They shouldn’t forget how research consistently points to the value of shared cultural experiences, where attention is focused and people gather around a common event. In jazz, the importance of the live setting is even more pronounced. Improvisation means that each performance is unique, shaped by the musicians, the room and the audience present on that particular evening. It’s something increasingly precious: the opportunity to listen together, to witness creativity as it unfolds, and to be part of a moment that will never happen in quite the same way again. So keep coming to the Vortex!
3 July
The Vortex has been associated with many major jazz musicians, going back nearly 40 years. Not least, as he approaches his 85th birthday, the distinctive trumpeter, flugelhorn player and composer Henry Lowther who remains one of the most admired and enduring figures in British jazz. Few musicians have contributed more richly to the development of British jazz. Henry’s remarkable career spans more than six decades and encompasses work with artists as diverse as John Dankworth, Gil Evans, George Russell, Mike Gibbs and Kenny Wheeler, as well as even an appearance at the Woodstock Festival with the Keef Hartley Band in 1969. Equally significant is his own quintet, Still Waters, founded in 1987 with bassist Dave Green. The group has become renowned for its lyrical originality, collective empathy and adventurous spirit. He has been a longstanding member of the London Jazz Orchestra who will be celebrating on Sunday at The Vortex. LJO also has an album release gig at The American International Church on Tottenham Court Road on 11 July.
At 85, Henry Lowther remains one of the most admired and distinctive voices in British jazz. Across more than six decades, his lyrical trumpet and flugelhorn playing, unfailing musical curiosity, and generosity as a collaborator have enriched countless ensembles, from groundbreaking jazz groups to orchestras, rock bands, and contemporary improvising projects. Still performing with remarkable vitality, Lowther embodies a rare combination of technical mastery, expressive warmth, and quiet innovation. His enduring creativity and commitment to the music continue to inspire generations of musicians and listeners alike, making his 85th birthday not only a celebration of an extraordinary career but also of an artist whose voice remains as compelling as ever.
10 July
Summer is a time when many jazz audiences migrate to festivals for their musical fix, and there is much to celebrate in that experience. From major gatherings such as North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam to intimate village festivals across Europe, each festival has its own character, often shaped by curators with a deeply personal connection to the music. The location becomes part of the story, creating a shared celebration of jazz.
But festivals complement rather than replace the club experience. Hearing jazz at a festival and hearing it in a venue such as the Vortex is not simply a question of scale; it changes the conversation between musicians, music and audience.
At the Vortex, the distance disappears. Each performance becomes more than a concert: it is a moment of collective discovery, revealing the intimacy at the improvisational heart of jazz and the unique connection between musicians and audience.