A feature that we notice, and indeed encourage, from so many of the bands that we hear at the Vortex is “authenticity” developed through a productive struggle. In effect a […]

This week is Independent Venues Week, celebration of independent music & arts venues and the people that own, run and work in them. Of course, nobody actually “owns” the Vortex, […]

Michael League of Snarky Puppy calls jazz musicians “human algorithms”. While there is so much music being uploaded to the streaming services every day, a jazz club like the Vortex […]

Until We Meet Again Avin Ahmadi & Lorenz Widauer Release: 28. November 2025 | Hideout Records   We don’t include many new releases on this site. But this one seemed […]

“Music is a legal performance-enhancing drug.” Thus wrote Professor Daisy Fancourt recently in the Guardian. Perhaps this is a reason why attending live music at the Vortex can be so […]

“Unselfing” is, according to author and philosopher Iris Murdoch, an important way to keep sane and be energised:  it is achieved by immersing oneself in a work of art, music […]

A version of this also appeared on UK Jazz News Hans Falb, founder and director for 45 years of Nickelsdorf Konfrontationen festival in Austria, died at the age of 71 […]

Chris Pugh   The Vortex is a community.  So our regulars such as audience or volunteers are as important to us as musicians. So, when a regular like Chris sadly […]

We are in an interdependent world, not just economically but also creatively. When able financially, we happily invite some of the great musicians around to play at the club. And […]

The EFG London Jazz Festival ends soon. We have enjoyed it at the Vortex so far. Such a diversity, within a world where we can offer good value to you […]

The EFG London Jazz Festival has landed! 16 days of carefully curated gigs, all worth attending.  Indeed when Shabaka Hutchings was asked for recommendations on the official promotional video for […]

“Christmas is coming.”  So have you thought about Vortex merch? We have a great selection for you. T shirts, mugs and tote bags. All great value and every penny helps […]

In the promotional video for the latest EFG London Jazz Festival, Shabaka, when asked for his recommendations of what to attend, replies: “ANYTHING AT THE VORTEX.” Our active programme of […]

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.” […]

Amazingly for a venue that puts on over 300 concerts a year, The Vortex survives with just a small team of highly committed paid staff.  This week we finally say […]

Oliver Weindling writes: Whenever Tony Bianco played at the Vortex, you could always be guaranteed something extra would come from him. Never overpowering but always enhancing. We  particularly felt it […]

We feel proud of how so much of the UK jazz scene has benefited from the openness of the club, such as when we think about, for example, the London […]

The football season is upon us. It’s a sport which, in its structure, has many similarities to jazz. Not least, there are two halves each of 45 minutes: not much […]