Vortex Jazz Club

Vortex discussion 155 - Jazz without Journalists?
2023-05-16 16:30 - 17:30 (UTC+0) | 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ
In recent months we have seen very few journalists from ‘traditional’ media (such as newspapers and print magazines) at the Vortex. Are we doing something wrong? Or is the media changing? In which case, what should be done to help the scene - both fans and musicians?

Join the online discussion led by Oliver Weindling, Vortex director.
————-

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86299899741?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 862 9989 9741
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Empirical 15yr Celebration with Julian Siegel and Jason Rebello
2023-05-16 19:45 - 22:30
Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 set(s) of music

Line-up:
Tom Farmer - Double Bass

Nathaniel Facey - Alto Saxophone

Lewis Wright - Vibraphone

Shaney Forbes - Drums

Jason Rebello - Piano

Julian Siegel - Tenor Saxophone

About
Join UK jazz stalwarts Empirical for a two-night celebration of their 15th anniversary at the Vortex.

Featuring Nathaniel Facey (alto sax), Tom Farmer (double bass), Lewis Wright (vibraphone) and Shaney Forbes (drums), the multi award-winning quartet have been creating music together since 2008.

Empirical’s ethos is defined by a deep commitment to risk-taking improvisation and collective music-making – an ethos that has helped the band maintain their reputation as ‘a reliable touchstone of contemporary British jazz at its most sophisticated’ (Jazzwise 2022).

In the recent past, the quartet has become known for its ‘now legendary Pop-up Jazz Lounge’ (Time Out) – a daring exercise in audience outreach which has seen the band turn disused shops in train stations and shopping malls in London, Berlin, Bath, Birmingham and Cheltenham into jazz clubs, for a week at a time. Since 2016, the band has played to more than 10,000 appreciative commuters and shoppers, racking up over 200 live sets in the process.

The quartet will perform music from their back catalogue, comprising five albums and three EPs, and their forthcoming full-length release entitled Wonder is the beginning featuring piano legend Jason Rebello and rising sax star Alex Hitchcock.

The quartet will be joined by special guest Julian Siegel who featured on Empirical’s second album Out’n’In which paid tribute to the musical legacy of Eric Dolphy.

‘’Empirical, around for an astonishing 15 years already, are one of the great British contributions to European jazz.’’ (Downbeat)

‘’London’s quartet Empirical delivered it all… This was the height of contemporary jazz from risk-taking players with real commitment.’’ (Calgary Herald)

“Empirical are exactly what top-class modern jazz should be – trailblazing yet wholly respectful of tradition.” (Time Out London)

[embed]https://youtu.be/IkodEoj4eXQ[/embed]
