Vortex

Upcoming events at Vortex

Community

Kit Downes/Alex Ward/John Edwards

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music Line-up: Kit Downes - Piano Alex Ward - Clarinet John Edwards - Double bass About: Pianist and improviser Kit Downes is playing again downstairs at the Vortex, as part of a series of improvised nights that have so far featured Tom Challenger, Sally O Reilly, Benedict Taylor, Tara Cunningham just to name a few. This time Kit is joined by the unique clarinetist Alex Ward and double bass legend John Edwards for a set of exploration and spontaneity.

Thu 4 Jun19:45Vortex

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Live Music

Tara Minton Quintet

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 set(s) of music Line-up: Tara Minton - Harp Miguel Gorodi - Trumpet John Williamson - Double bass David Ingamells - Drum kit Ernesto Marichales - Percussion About Celebrated jazz harpist and vocalist Tara Minton presents her new album, “The Devil Invites You To Dance”. Written in México City in July 2023, the suite captures a soul’s journey through the Underworld of shadows and desire. 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. Beyond "should" and "shouldn't" is the place where we meet ourselves. Tara Minton is a Melbourne born harpist, vocalist and composer based in London. She is proudly endorsed by Les Harpes Camac and holds a master's degree in jazz performance from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Sought after as both a harpist and vocalist, Tara has worked with Björk, Eska, Stan Sulzmann, Geoff Gascoyne, Emma Rawicz, Alice Zawadski, Trish Clowes, Faris Ishaq, The Ronnie Scott's All Stars, Opera North, The Royal Ballet and The Australian World Orchestra. In July 2023, with the help of "Asociaión Latinoamericana Del Arpa" Tara spent two weeks in México City to compose a new suite of music, "The Devil Invites You To Dance." The music is a marriage between Latin American and British jazz cultures, exploring Méxican mythology, joy, self expression and desire.

Thu 4 Jun20:45Vortex

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Community

Downstairs Living Room: Immy Churchill presents Songs That Shaped Me

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music About Songwriter and vocalist Immy Churchill presents an evening of acoustic singer songwriters; debuting songs from her upcoming EP alongside the music of artists that shaped her own writing. She will be drawing upon her love of songwriters from the 60s and 70s (Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake and James Taylor) and will be accompanied by acoustic guitar and piano on this summer's evening.

Fri 5 Jun19:45Vortex

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Live Music

Grifton Forbes-Amos

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Grifton Forbes-Amos - Trumpet James Akers - Saxophone Jay Verma - Piano Matt May - Bass guitar Jansen Santana - Drum kit Luke McCarthy - Drum kit About: The artist Grifton Forbes-Amos is a trumpet player from the UK. His projects merge the differing aspects of Jazz whilst including the soulful playing within other genres like Gospel and Soul Jazz Additionally, he pays homage to the styles of his Latin influences which culminates in a fusion that creates a form of Jazz that’s like candy to your ears. Something that is sweet, that you can enjoy listening to the compositions and brought to its pinnacle through the solos. His music intends to take you on a euphoric journey leaving you smiling from ear to ear and always wanting more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sMJd7Oxor8&t=4s

Fri 5 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

Rebecka Edlund with Hans Koller Quartet

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 set(s) of music Line-up: Hans Koller - Piano John O'Gallagher - Alto saxophone Louis Koller - trombone Rebecka Edlund - voice Tom Sheen - Double bass Sacha Harlan - Drum kit About Pianist/composer Hans Koller returns to the club with his long-time musical collaborateur, saxophonist John O'Gallagher in a new band featuring the amazing vocalist Rebecka Edlund, the brilliant rhythm section of Tom Sheen (bass) and Sacha Harlan (drums), plus the exciting new trombone player on the scene, Louis Koller - featuring new and old compositions around the poetry of Fernando Pessoa, Joseph Brodsky, and Friedrich Hölderlin. [embed]https://youtu.be/uTi5F-qPxC4?si=vutkIUlaqEcyZ6e8 https://youtu.be/KDD4KHosZlY?si=3SRhFKaQZ3D6gdp4[/embed]

Sat 6 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

Rebecka Edlund with Hans Koller Quintet

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 set(s) of music Line-up: Hans Koller - Piano John O'Gallagher - Alto saxophone Louis Koller - trombone Rebecka Edlund - voice Tom Sheen - Double bass Sacha Harlan - Drum kit About Pianist/composer Hans Koller returns to the club with his long-time musical collaborateur, saxophonist John O'Gallagher in a new band featuring the amazing vocalist Rebecka Edlund, the brilliant rhythm section of Tom Sheen (bass) and Sacha Harlan (drums), plus the exciting new trombone player on the scene, Louis Koller - featuring new and old compositions around the poetry of Fernando Pessoa, Joseph Brodsky, and Friedrich Hölderlin. https://youtu.be/uTi5F-qPxC4?si=vutkIUlaqEcyZ6e8 https://youtu.be/KDD4KHosZlY?si=3SRhFKaQZ3D6gdp4

Sat 6 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

London Jazz Orchestra Vortex Sessions - "celebrating Stan Sulzmann"

Doors 3:30 PM, Music 4:00 PM - 2 sets of music About The London Jazz Orchestra, drawn from the capital's top soloists and writers, is celebrating its 35th year. For 15 of those years, Stan Sulzmann was featured soloist and composer; his journey in big band writing actually began when he started arranging for the LJO. Stan, as saxophonist and composer, is universally acclaimed - worldwide - as one of the finest and most original musicians in jazz, and his sound and compositions are fundamental to the band’s uniqueness. His music is one of the pillars of band’s repertoire and this gig features some of his very best.

Sun 7 Jun16:30Vortex

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Live Music

Vortex Jam Session with Riley Stone-Lonergan

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:15 PM House Band TBC About A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation. If you’re an instrumentalist – we can’t wait to welcome you back to the club – you can attend for free if you’re planning on playing with the house band. No need to book in advance! Our dear Vortex members are also welcome to these sessions free of charge.

Sun 7 Jun20:45Vortex

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Free! (worth double-checking)

Community

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. First set from house band: David Miller (saxophone), Davide Melis (piano), Duncan McKenzie (bass) & Bobby James (drums) followed by a jam session till close. Entry is free all night 19:00 – 22:30.

Tue 9 Jun20:00Vortex

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Live Music

Matt Anderson Quartet

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Matt Anderson - Tenor saxophone Alberto Palau - Piano Jay Davis - Drum kit Will Harris - Double bass About: Celebrating ten years together as a band, the Matt Anderson Quartet performs selections from their three albums as well as new material. Their latest release Live at Leeds Jazz Festival was awarded four stars by Jazzwise, who also praised the “well-integrated, swinging and supremely confident ensemble… [with] a soulful depth to his musicality that underpins the academic attention to detail”. Performing mostly original music, the roots of jazz are never far away, with a rhythmic feel and blues sensibility that is anchored in the tradition, however the music also expands into other areas such as modal and contemporary harmony and British folk-style melodies, giving the group a distinctive identity. Born in the North Yorkshire Moors, the son of a music teacher and based in Leeds for a time, Matt has lived in London since 2015. Becoming part of the fertile jazz scene in the capital, he has since performed with artists/bands such as Greg Hutchinson (with the Jiannis Pavlidis Quintet), Ivo Neame, the Gareth Lockrane and Calum Gourlay big bands, Jamie Doe’s Magic Lantern and Hannes Riepler, and he has also toured in New Zealand, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. In 2023, he became a D’Addario Woodwinds artist and was also made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for contributions to the music industry.

Wed 10 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

Paul G. Smyth at 50

Photo credit: Dawid Laskowski Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 3 set(s) of music Line-up: Paul G. Smyth - piano Benedict Taylor - viola Daniel Thompson - guitar Áine O’Dwyer - harp John Edwards - bass Mark Sanders - drums About “one of the great contemporary pianists” - The Free Jazz Collective 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. Described by The New York City Jazz Record as "a revelation" whose "approach to the piano is utterly original," Smyth has released critically acclaimed albums with Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, Chris Corsano, John Wiese and John Russell on his Weekertoft label and has performed across Europe with Charles Gayle, Derek Bailey, Keiji Haino, Wadada Leo Smith and Okkyung Lee. The evening opens with Smyth’s “newest trio with oldest friends,” featuring violist Benedict Taylor and guitarist Daniel Thompson. Taylor is a composer and improviser whose work extends across contemporary dance, film, theatre and art installation. Thompson, founder of Empty Birdcage Records and co-organiser of the Shoreditch Church Concert Series alongside Taylor, has collaborated with Evan Parker, John Edwards, Steve Noble and Alex Ward among many others.

Thu 11 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

Dalston Song Club: Sam Horan

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music Line-up: Sam Horan - Guitar About Dalston Song Club Our monthly series brings together some of the most prominent voices in contemporary songwriting, hosted by Matthew Herd. This month we welcome Sam Horan, playing music from his forthcoming album. Sam Horan Sam Horan is singer-songwriter of Cornish and Irish descent, influenced by folk and jazz music. Drawn to unconventional colours and intricate guitar parts, Sam has an ear for crafting tuneful songs. His debut single ‘Ancestors’, taken from his forthcoming album, was inspired by reconnecting with his roots and searching for meaning in generations past. His second single 'Storms’ was released in April this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1sM1PsNIbc

Fri 12 Jun19:45Vortex

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Live Music

Leo Richardson Quartet

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Leo Richardson - Tenor saxophone Rick Simpson - Piano Dave Whitford - Double bass Tim Giles - Drum kit About London-based saxophonist Leo Richardson presents his high-octane quartet performing entirely original music, firmly grounded in contemporary hard bop. The music is very much inspired by the hard bop and post-bop era of jazz, with strong melodies, exciting interplay, and a modern edge. Known for his powerful sound, melodic clarity, and deep roots in the hard bop tradition, Richardson leads a band that delivers music of intense energy, and strong collective identity. The band will be performing new material gearing up to their next album recording, alongside some music from their most recent record “Move”. The Quartet’s debut album “The Chase” was the first debut album to receive 5 from The Sunday Guardian/Observer. The album was selected by The Times newspaper as one of the Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2017 and one of the Top 100 Albums of all music genres. The success of the album and the tour led to the Quartet’s debut performance at the 2018 Love Supreme Jazz Festival. The Leo Richardson Quartet released their second album Move in 2019 to critical acclaim, receiving 5 in BBC Music Magazine. https://open.spotify.com/album/72Stxg5A1bHIQxvx6CvDGy?si=V5gofYKsRYG1c95Vu0ek6Q

Fri 12 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

Vortex Jam Session

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:15 PM House Band TBC About A weekly session on Sunday evenings, hosted by four of London’s finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, Trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonists and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation. If you’re an instrumentalist – we can’t wait to welcome you back to the club – you can attend for free if you’re planning on playing with the house band. No need to book in advance! Our dear Vortex members are also welcome to these sessions free of charge.

Sun 14 Jun20:45Vortex

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Comedy

Royal Academy of Music Free Improv Group

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM Line-up: Mos Freed – Guitar Chris Williams – Saxophone & Royal Academy of Music Students Heidi Fardell - flute/recorder Anelise Gamulescu - piano Mark Lasis - accordion Zoe Meadowcroft - guitar James Hindle - cello Stephen Conway - bass guitar William Ewins - double bass Anna Willians - jazz recorder Ruby Howells - flute Aimee Wilmot - jazz voice About: 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.

Tue 16 Jun20:45Vortex

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Live Music

Raffy Bushman - New Life Album Launch

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Raffy Bushman - Piano Matt Davies - Drums Alec Hewes - Double bass About: Acclaimed UK pianist Raffy Bushman has been a key voice in the UK jazz underground for several years. From his early piano trio projects – rooted in exploring the symbiotic relationship between jazz and hip-hop – through to his innovative classical crossover explorations with his string quintet, NuShape Orchestra and Unit 31, he’s an artist steeped in the jazz tradition of re-contextualisation, innovation and exploration. Fast forward to 2026, and Raffy has returned to where he started – back with his trusted piano trio, but this time with the weight of many more years of creative and lived experience behind him. Him and his band with celebrate the release of his debut album 'New Life' with a performance at the Vortex Jazz Club. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtDfiB9BonM

Wed 17 Jun20:45Vortex

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Community

Outhouse

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music Line-up: Tomas Challenger - Saxophone Robin Fincker - Saxophone Johnny Brierley - Double bass Dave Smith - Drum kit About: Outhouse return to the Vortex after a lengthy period of time. Part of the upsurge in young creative British Jazz 20 years ago, they create a group sound that includes the two tenor saxophone front line of Robin Fincker and Tom Challenger, alongside the influential rhythm section of Johnny Brierley (Bass) and Dave Smith (Drums).

Thu 18 Jun19:45Vortex

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