“Elchin Shirinov has developed a sound and approach all his own. His writing and piano playing echo another time, yet resonate with a striking modernity. He truly draws a unique sound from the piano, unlocking a full palette of sonic color. This is music worth exploring deeply.” – Larry Grenadier
Over his career, saxophonist and composer Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson has crafted an unmistakable sound that is deeply communicative. Tonight he returns to the Vortex for a rare concert from one of most compelling bands on the scene.
Launching their new album ‘It’s about time’ tonight, this electric/acoustic guitar duo play distinctive arrangements of Stevie Wonder, Thelonious Monk & Brazilian classics augmented by Paul Clarvis on drums/percussion.
We are delighted to celebrate the release of a new Ogun production:
Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippett/Louis Moholo-Moholo – Live in Foggia
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.
Niklas Lukassen (GER) unites protagonists of the scenes of Amsterdam, London, Paris and Berlin with Ben Van Gelder (NL), Ivo Neame (UK) and Francesco Ciniglio (IT) in his quartet.
Niklas Lukassen (GER) unites protagonists of the scenes of Amsterdam, London, Paris and Berlin with Ben Van Gelder (NL), Ivo Neame (UK) and Francesco Ciniglio (IT) in his quartet.
Three of London’s most exciting improvisers get together for the first time to delve into forgotten folk tunes and songs that will never be sung again.
Guitarist and composer Karim Saber performs music from his upcoming sophomore album alongside his longstanding band of collaborators.
A brand new collaboration between Laura Jurd, James Allsopp and Dave Storey featuring Norwegian special guest Magne Thormodsæter on double bass.
4 piece London based, jazz infused powerhouse Sokkyo comprised of Grifton Forbes-Amos on trumpet, Kavi Maraj on bass, Laurie Milton on keys and Ayman Sinada on drums bring a rhythm fueled mix of sounds to the stage.
Loz Speyer’s Inner Space takes on the music of Outer Space, as composed by the mighty intergalactic bandleader Sun Ra – and arranged from the original piano scores for a new collaboration with two very special guests, Jason Yarde and Marcina Arnold.
An evening of beautiful Eastern European and Gypsy Folk with some Klezmer. The first of a series of live, unplugged & audio inclusive gigs that we’ll be hosting throughout the year in association with Sownd Affects.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.
This month featuring: Robin Foster (objects), Matthew Grigg (guitar/amplifier) & Tom Ward (saxophone/clarinet/flute) + John Butcher (saxophones), Phil Durrant (mandolin), Mark Wastell (perc) + Charlotte Keeffe (trumpet), N.O. Moore (guitar) & Peter Cusack (guitar, electronics)
Described by the Guardian as “eclectic, eccentric and unobtrusively erudite”, Bruno Heinen joins forces with acclaimed ECM recording artist Tom Challenger to play arrangements of Abdullah Ibrahim, Dorothy Ashby and Leonard Bernstein alongside originals from the co-leaders with fiery young rhythm section of Kobe Heath and Will Cleasby.
Reimagining jazz repertoire for the 21st century.
Album launch for “All It Was”, the new album by the Olie Brice Quartet. The Olie Brice Quartet – featuring Rachel Musson, Alexander Hawkins and Will Glaser – play Brice’s compositions
ReWired is the new acoustic trio project from acclaimed composer, arranger and pianist, Janette Mason.
London guitarist and composer Jakub Klimiuk brings his quintet to present music from the critically acclaimed album ‘(un)balanced’, described by The Guardian as “a rare mix of New York edginess and Scandinavian avant-jazz impressionism”, alongside completely new material.
Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music About Queer Jazz exists to platform, nurture and celebrate the emerging queer jazz scene. Programmed by Tina Edwards…
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.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.
Two leading lights of the UK contemporary jazz scene, well known as members of the award winning group Empirical, come together for this explosive duo show. Nathaniel Facey (alto saxophone) and Shaney Forbes (drums) will explore the material from John Coltrane’s classic record Interstellar Space.
Our monthly late night series brings together some of the most prominent voices in contemporary songwriting, hosted by Matthew Herd. This month we’re hugely excited to welcome an acoustic set from The Howl & The Hum.
Lekan Babalola Known for his interpretation of ancient music through African Diaspora influences, Lekan Babalola and The Sacred Funk Quartet bring you an evening of “mesmerizing fusion, skillfully blending cosmopolitan nuances with mystical subtlety.”
Known for ‘Nudging boundaries as she goes’ and ‘raw and striking vocals’ Italian singer and storyteller Germana Stella La Sorsa’s innovative style has found the perfect partner in internationally renowned British guitarist Tom Ollendorff, starting a collaboration envisioned as a celebration of the beauty of simplicity.
Quicksilver improvisation from a quartet of dynamic voices from across the UK creative music spectrum
UFO (Unidentified Folk Outfit), led by Tom Ridout on the electric recorder, is a Rock/Folk power trio that reinvents traditional English folk music. The band combines innovative arrangements with a focus on improvisation, creating a unique and dynamic sound. Expect to hear well-known melodies, but with intriguing and unexpected twists.
Gloria Yehilevsky’s G M?R is a trio+ whose identity expands beyond its London-based core of Yehilevsky on vibraphone/percussion, Aram Bahmaie on basses, Jason Yarde on saxophone and Sam Norris on alto sax/flute.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.
To top off it’s 33rd season at the Vortex, the London Jazz Orchestra celebrates the 75th birthday of phenomenal pianist and composer Pete Saberton, whose unique writing and playing style helped define the sound of the band.
“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.
Annie Whitehead 4tet & The Orchestra That Fell to Earth.
A very special double-header to celebrate the 70th birthday of world renowned trombonist Annie Whitehead.
Whispers of Rain is a bold collaboration between Alina Bzhezhinska and Tulshi, reimagining the harp through the lens of electronics and live sound design. For this special album launch, Alina is joined by the legendary Tony Kofi, whose powerful saxophone voice brings new colours to their soundscape & special guest Hyelim Kim.
High energy free improvisation from a quartet made up of four leading names from the UK and European jazz and improvised music scene.
Rosie Turton, Isobella Burnham, Momoko Gill, Jan Halen and Bridget Walsh create and co-regulate in real time, exploring everything from wildfires to revolution, misogyny to mutual-aid, lullabies to Land Back. Special guest performance from Rosie Frater-Taylor.
Daniel Kemshell and Olly Chalk first met in Birmingham over ten years ago. Since then their friendship and musicianship has blossomed through frequent collaboration.
Into his 5th decade of playing regular gigs at the Vortex, Virtuoso Tuba player and inventor of the Orenophone, Oren Marshall brings together two of his favourite (and multiple award-winning) London musicians – saxophonist/composer Josephine Davies and drummer/composer Jay Davis.
Maydew/Wickham/Martin-Jones is a jazz trio that ventures into the rich worlds of European folk and classical music, reimagining them through the art of improvisation.
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.
A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Harben Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ sometimes a few guest leaders) each one hosting one session on rotation.
Join us for an evocative evening of traditional and cross-cultural melodies with Suna Alan, a Kurdish Alevi singer whose voice carries the spirit of her ancestral heritage and the cosmopolitan soul of her upbringing.
Singer songwriter and vocalist Immy Churchill welcomes you to the Downstairs Living Room as she releases her debut single “Give Me Time To Breathe”. This intimate solo gig will be a sharing of her original songs, both old and new, in celebration of her long-awaited release as a solo artist.
Lockheart/Williams/Davis is a new trio that shifts moment to moment, gracefully and spontaneously stitching together original compositions along with a few well-chosen known songs.
Come and hear the great improvisers of the future share their talent in a programme led by Moss Freed and Academy alumnus Chris Williams. This programme represents the culmination of workshops with this special group of Royal Academy of Music students, connected by a keen interest in delving deeper into individual expression and exploring collaborative forms of real-time music-making.
The final concert of this year’s series. A celebration of new music by Ashley Bonfante, Julian Woods, Jem Whyte, Tom O’Brien, Jonah Evans and special guests and friends. It’ll be quite a celebration!
Steven Nichols is a London-based trumpeter and composer/arranger. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2024, he signed with Ubuntu Music to release his debut album ’From Dust’. Tonight his quintet will be performing his ‘From Dust’ project live for the first time since 2022, joined by the same musicians as featured on the album.
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.
The Austrian Cultural Forum London is delighted to invite you to this year’s edition of the concert series JazzExchange which aims to spotlight cutting edge Austrian groups and UK based ensembles curated by Guido Spannocchi