Allen Ginsberg, the beat poet, wrote: “Jazz gives us a way of expressing the spontaneous motions of the heart. It’s like a fountain of instantaneous inspiration that’s available to everybody.”
It’s this personal element, even if perhaps incorporated with some quite sophisticated technical features, that gives jazz a special impact. The great jazz, which is what we get to experience regularly here at the Vortex, is, at the end of the day, about honesty of the performers. There is often, somewhere and somehow, some soul searching. No wonder that, in parallel to the evolution of jazz in the Fifties and Sixties when Ginsberg was writing, and particularly leading up to the development of free improvisation, it evolved as an art form of honesty. Just like what was going on with Abstract Expressionism and Beat Poetry in New York, or, over here, Pop Art with the likes of Peter Blake and the cartoons of Ralph Steadman. More than just a sort of “entertainment” which jazz can too often be dismissed as.
This week includes some spectacular musicians showing off their skills in such personal and personable manners. A particular highlight will be the shows by Tom Ollendorff (18) as part of his album launch world tour including Jeff Ballard.
Bruno Heinen is in tonight (10) with a stellar piano trio including Tom Herbert, the plangent saxophonist Ed Jones returns on 17. Reiss Ellis Beckles transposes the energy of New York to London Meanwhile, at the more radical end of jazz, the group Kelvin dissects and reassembles the music of Anthony Braxton (16), immediately followed by wunderkind Reuben Goldmark.
10 Bruno Heinen Trio
Pianist Bruno’s imagination is boundless, and he is known for making accessible jazz versions of the music of Stockhausen and Bartok amongst others. Tonight he is joined in a new lineup by Mercury-nominated Tom Herbert on bass (The Invisible and Polar Bear) and Gene Calderazzo (known for his work with Julian Siegel, Partisans and Pharaoh Sanders).
11 Reiss Ellis Beckles
Beckles fuses the best of cutting edge London and New York, where he remained for a couple of years. Tonight he has a new band including the wondrous Billy Marrows on guitar, who himself has led memorable performances at the Vortex.
12 Vortex Jam Session with Sean Gibbs
Who better to host London’s premier jam session than the effervescent trumpeter Sean Gibbs? His playing “spans emotion, moving from melancholy to joyous”. (UK Jazz News)
15 Queer Jazz: Intervention and Hana Amaya
Tonight our special queer jazz season continues with the extraordinary sonic journey of Intervention, the band of drummer Lya Reis Guerrero, vocalist Plumm, pianist Eliane Correa and bassist Beth O’Lenahan. Hana Amaya is a singer and trumpeter whose music combines futurism, cinematic sounds and nu-soul
16 (Downstairs early) Kelvin (The Music of Anthony Braxton)
Anthony Braxton is a seminal musician, as a composer as well as saxophonist, and has just turned 80. So it’ll be fascinating to hear some of our own newer generation, such as Dominic Lash, Charlotte Keeffe and Andrew Lisle, taking it and developing it appropriate to today.
16 Reuben Goldmark Trio: Live EP Recording
“This young man is from another planet”, according to Monty Alexander. If so, we are lucky that pianist Reuben has landed at the Vortex, where we’ll be glad to hear, and indeed participate in, his newest planned recording. Do come and support it!
17 Ed Jones Quartet
Ed first reached fame with the bands US3 and Incognito. Having initially been founded in 2011, Ed’s quartet has built from the initial inspiration of Wayne Shorter to create something formidable. It includes acclaimed pianist Rebecca Nash.
18 (Downstairs afternoon) Junior Jazz Workshop with Nick Costley-White
An afternoon aimed at keen and advancing jazz students aged 12-19, with free admission and run by guitarist and educator Nick Costley-White, Tom Farmer and Josh Morrison. Open to all with at least an intermediate ability.
18 (2 shows) Tom Ollendorff Trio featuring Jeff Ballard and Conor Chaplin – Album Launch
The London leg of a world tour extending as far as Japan, linking to the launch of his new album on Fresh Sound New Talent. It includes legendary drummer Jeff Ballard, a major force in jazz known for his work with Fly, Brad Mehldau and Chick Corea amongst many others.
18 (Downstairs late) Vortex Lates: M Field
Matthew Field is the creative force behind Beatenberg from Cape Town. He takes a magpie approach and an ear for melody into new realms. Our late shows are becoming legendary. And with easy access by public transport all night from Dalston Junction and night bus, they are unmissable.
19 (Afternoon) Mopomoso
Our afternoon buffet of free improvised music includes Average Dragoons, with members of the Ghikas family, Julian Woods on microtonal guitar and pianist Stephen Grew.
19 (Evening) Jam Session
The Vortex jam sessions are probably the best in London. A great leader, such as Riley Stone-Lonergan or Harben Kay, encourages musicians of all ages to join in. It’s free for members and musicians.