Vortex Jam Session with Rick Simpson
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £6 / Free entry for Vortex members & participating musicians
Midweek Downstairs Jam
Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set.
Time: 7 - 10.30PM
Free Entry
Gan Gemi
Gan Gemi (pronounced Gan-je-mee) is a young artist gaining a serious reputation as an arranger, producer and beatmaker, creating soundscapes which incorporate elements of jazz, electronic, classical and hip hop into a heady brew that speak directly to the soul.
Time: 6.30 - 8.30PM
Standard £10
Beyond the Blue
Beyond the Blue are an exciting, up-and-coming London-based Jazz band. Their music, written and arranged by pianist/composer Jude Lane, draws influence from a wide range of genres ranging from UK dance music to jazz and classical music, with a unique instrumentation of: cello, guitar, alto, tenor and rhythm section.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £12.50 / Vortex Members £6.25 / Students & UC beneficiaries £5
Jamie Pye Quartet — ‘Monochrome’ Album Launch
Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. Drawing influence from all music and art and traditions, he pays particular attention towards the work of composers and bandleaders Brian Blade, Kendrick Scott, Petros Klampanis, Aaron Parks, Mike Moreno and Gilad Hekselman.
Time: 6.30 - 8.30PM
Standard £10 / Vortex Members £10 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Legacy of sound feat. Awale Jant Band and Kawson Band (Double Bill)
Legacy of Sound presents a special double bill featuring Awale Jant Band & Kawson Band, set to light up the stage with their infectious rhythms and captivating tunes.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.5 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Bruno Heinen’s The W
The W is a newly established London-based contemporary jazz quartet of outstanding musicality creating chamber jazz that is as exciting and inventive, as it is elegant and sophisticated.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.5 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Vortex Lates: Contemporary Folk Night w/ James Patrick Gavin & Grace Lemon
Join James Patrick Gavin (a multi-instrumentalist with musical and family roots running from Northern Ireland to the Basque Country) and Grace Lemon (Uilleann piper, storyteller and composer) as they bring together a night of music from London’s thriving folk scene.
Time: 10 - 1AM
Standard £6 / Vortex Members £5
Blue Town 4 feat Zoe Francis, Jim Mullen, Ross Stanley & Steve Brown
Join us for an evening of classic songs from 1940’s/50’s by USA and UK songbook composers. Zoe Francis beautiful voice and sensitive storytelling of a great lyric, will be backed by three leading UK musicians, legendary guitarist Jim Mullen, the incomparable Ross Stanley organ, and swinging Steve Brown drums.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £17.50 / Vortex Members £15 / Students & UC beneficiaries £12.50
Vortex Lates: Billy Marrows
“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.
Time: 10 - 1AM
Standard £6 / Vortex Members £5
Vortex Jam Session
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £5 / Free entry for Vortex members & participating musicians
Fathom (Butcher/Lash/Noble/Thomas)
A quartet of extraordinary improvisers: John Butcher (saxophones), Dominic Lash (double bass), Steve Noble (drums), and Pat Thomas (piano). This concert will be the group’s first performance since the album’s release – don’t miss a very rare chance to catch this remarkable group.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.50 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Creations – Free Improvisation Evening with Toru + Jam Session
Curated by cellist Shirley Smart, Creations features a set by invited artists from the UKs vibrant free improvisation scene, followed by an acoustic jam session.
Time: 6.30 - 8.30PM
Standard £10 / Vortex Members £10 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
World Music Big Band featuring Steve Pretty
We welcome back the World Music Big Band with a new leader, Steve Pretty on trumpet and featuring Alison Rayner on bass and Mark Huggett on drums.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.50 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Sultan Stevenson Trio
Pianist Sultan Stevenson returns to the Vortex with his trio featuring Jacob Gryn on double bass and Joel Waters on drums. A Londoner with roots in the Caribbean, Sultan is a product of both Tomorrow’s Warriors and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy. He is influenced by the work of many of the greats of the jazz piano, including McCoy Tyner, Geri Allen, Herbie Hancock and Kenny Kirkland.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.5 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
VORTEX LATES: DALSTON SONG CLUB W/ ARUN THAVA
Our monthly late night series brings songwriters together to perform in the round, hosted by Matthew Herd. Tonight we are joined by brilliant writer and guitarist Arun Thava and his band.
Time: 10 - 2AM
Standard £6 / Vortex Members £5
The Pocket Ellington feat. Tony Kofi & Alan Barnes
Born out of Tony Kofi & Alex Webb’s shared love of Ellington, The Pocket Ellington manages what ought to be impossible – creating a classic Ellingtonian sound with just four horns & a rhythm section. But with Kofi, Alan Barnes, Andy Davies and David Lalljee on hand, anything is possible. Veteran bassist Dave Green and powerhouse drummer Winston Clifford provide the swing.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £20 / Vortex Members £18 / Students & UC beneficiaries £16
Vortex Lates: Bruno Heinen Trio
“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.
Time: 10 - 1AM
Standard £6 / Vortex Members £5
Mopomoso Christmas Party
Expect an array of freely improvised Mopomoso bursts from some of the U.K.‘s most popular freely improvising musicians! Come & join us to celebrate yet another wondrous Mopomoso year, WAHOO!
Time: 12 - 5PM
Standard £12 / Vortex Members & Concession £8
Vortex Jam Session
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £5 / Free entry for Vortex members & participating musicians
Midweek Downstairs Jam
Welcoming and relaxed, come for a drink, sit back and enjoy the music, or bring your horns, sticks and strings to join in during the second set.
Time: 7 - 10.30PM
Free Entry
Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe Quintet
Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe is a pianist and composer currently undertaking a post-graduate degree in Jazz at Guildhall. Having grown up in London, Diarra has had a rich and diverse musical upbringing that exposed him to an array of different genres including jazz, soul, reggae and soca.
Time: 6.30 - 8.30PM
Standard £10 / Vortex Members £10 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Andrew Linham Jazz Orchestra
Join the Andrew Linham Jazz Orchestra for their ‘Christ-Mess Extravaganza’ as they are welcomed back to the Vortex this festive season with original big band music composed by enigmatic leader and baritone saxophonist Andrew Linham.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.5 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Whirlpool series 2. Ashley Bonfante curates
The latest night of the Whirlpool series will be curated by Ashley Bonfante. New music and collaborations. The other Whirlpool curators are Jemima Whyte, Julian Woods, Rik van der Made,…
Time: 7 - 8.30PM
£10/£5 (students, members)
Alexandra Ridout and Friends
Alexandra Ridout brings a fantastic group of young musicians, all of which are thriving young musicians on the NYC scene, apart from the UK’s very own Freddie Jensen.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.5 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Josephine Davies’ Ensō Ensemble – ‘Celtic Wheel’ Album Launch (1st show)
Led by composer, conductor, and saxophonist Josephine Davies, this ensemble features 17 of the UK’s finest jazz musicians. They will be performing the Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite, released on this auspicious day of winter Solstice, on Ubuntu Records.
Time: 7.30 - 9PM
Standard £17.50 / Vortex Members £15 / Students & UC beneficiaries £12.50
Josephine Davies’ Ensō Ensemble – ‘Celtic Wheel’ Album Launch (2nd show)
Led by composer, conductor, and saxophonist Josephine Davies, this ensemble features 17 of the UK’s finest jazz musicians. They will be performing the Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite, released on this auspicious day of winter Solstice, on Ubuntu Records.
Time: 9.30 - 11PM
Standard £17.50 / Vortex Members £15 / Students & UC beneficiaries £12.50
Vortex Lates: Will Glaser’s Curiosities
Will Glaser presents a night of experimental and genre bending artists. Ranging from songwriters to improvisors and the electronic to acoustic, this night is for the satisfaction of the sonically curious.
Time: 10 - 1AM
Standard £6 / Vortex Members £5
Vortex Lates: Rachael Cohen
“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.
Time: 10 - 1AM
Standard £6 / Vortex Members £5
Vortex Jam Session
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £5 / Free entry for Vortex members & participating musicians
John Etheridge / Vimala Rowe with Blue Spirits
The sensational vocalist Vimala Rowe joins guitar legend John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits (Pete Whittaker (organ) and George Double(drums) for a post Christmas treat of jazz, blues and global music.
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £17.50 / Vortex Members £15 / Students & UC beneficiaries £12.5
IAN SHAW’S NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH
We are delighted to welcome back Ian Shaw for his traditional New Year’s Eve performance.
Time: 9.30 - 1.30AM
Standard (seated) £35
Roella Oloro Trio
Roella is a British multi-instrumentalist, performer and composer of Nigerian and Jamaican heritage. Tonight, she brings her trio to the Vortex featuring Rio Kai (double bass) & Andee Liu (drums).
Time: 7.45 - 10.30PM
Standard £15 / Vortex Members £12.5 / Students & UC beneficiaries £10
Jack Wilson
Jack has had an eclectic career so far, covering a wide range of musical styles, most recently he toured with Palestinian violinist Akram Abdulfattah for his debut UK tour and featured on his release ‘Akram Abdulfattah Live at Cambridge Folk Festival.’
Time: 6.30 - 8.30PM
Standard £10
Mopomoso / January
Mopomoso is the UK’s longest running concert series dedicated to freely improvised music!
Time: 2 - 5PM
Standard £12 / Vortex Members & Concession £8
Valentine’s Day – Heidi Vogel, James Kitchman & Bruno Heinen (Early show)
For this Valentine’s Special, Heidi teams up with award-winning pianist Bruno Heinen – described by the Guardian as “eclectic, eccentric, unobtrusively erudite” and the acclaimed guitarist James Kitchman; recognised as one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz guitarists of his generation.
Time: 7.30 - 9PM
Standard £20 / Vortex Members £18 / Students & UC beneficiaries £17
Valentine’s Day – Heidi Vogel, James Kitchman & Bruno Heinen (Late show)
For this Valentine’s Special, Heidi teams up with award-winning pianist Bruno Heinen – described by the Guardian as “eclectic, eccentric, unobtrusively erudite” and the acclaimed guitarist James Kitchman; recognised as one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz guitarists of his generation.
Time: 9.30 - 11PM
Standard £20 / Vortex Members £18 / Students & UC beneficiaries £17