Born out of pianist/arranger Alex Webb’s love of Ellington, The Pocket Ellington manages what ought to be impossible – creating a classic Ellingtonian sound with just four horns and a rhythm section. But with a top-drawer horn section, and with veteran bassist Dave Green and powerhouse drummer Winston Clifford providing the swing, the group does justice to classic Ellingtonia – and a lot more.

The Band plays on the differences of Andrea Di Biase’s two musical worlds, divided by the sea: one is rooted in his native Italy with the melodic and poetic approach of Italian masters such as Nino Rota and the band’s first pianist Antonio Zambrini.

Diving deep into Aztec mythology and Latin American dance traditions, Tara Minton and her band lead the listener through a dark and joyous exploration of what it means to be human.

To mark his 50th birthday, one of Ireland’s most distinctive improvising pianists, Paul G. Smyth, returns to the Vortex for an evening of sets with old friends and close collaborators.

De Beauvoir Jazz Festival is a weekend-long jazz festival taking place across De Beauvoir Town, Hackney & Islington, in July 2026.