London Jazz Orchestra “Vortex Sessions” John Warren special

The LJO’s Vortex Sessions are London’s longest jazz residency.  Now its 33rd year, the band is justly renowned for its world-class quality of performance and its lead in creating new and vital music; former members Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Nikki Iles and Stan Sulzmann all wrote for the band. The band’s music is all written by its members, with two exceptions: Gil Evans, and the legendary John Warren, whose 85th birthday we celebrate in our London Jazz Festival gig.

Warren, best known for his classic recordings with John Surman, Mike Westbrook, and Kenny Wheeler, has been a friend of and collaborator with the band from its earliest days. His unique style – lyrical melodies, lovely counterpoint, exciting shout choruses – always engage the audience and inspire great solo playing from the LJO’s brilliant soloists.

The gig’s first set includes director Scott Stroman’s creative arrangements of music by Mark Anthony Turnage, John Coltrane, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.