Live Jazz in London

Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music Line-up: Lauren Breen - Alto saxophone Christ-Stéphane Boizi - Trombone Tom Sheen - Double bass Oscar Brady - Piano Miranda Radford - Drum kit About: Lauren Breen and Christ-Stéphane Boizi are both composers and improvisers in their own right, and now this dynamic duo have joined forces to lead a new and up-coming band. They have performed together for years in Christ-Stéphane’s sextet, however, this new project showcases both Breen and Boizi’s compositions, alongside a killing young rhythm section. In previous projects they have played at venues such as Pizza Express Soho, the Elgar Room (the Royal Albert Hall) and the Jazz Cafe, and their years of friendship and sharing the stage, really comes through in their frontline playing. Breen’s powerful and bright tone blends beautifully with Boizi’s warm, soulful sound, creating an iconic and exciting hardbop frontline. They both met at Tomorrow's Warriors and have continued studying together at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where they are in their final year. Lauren Breen is an exciting up-coming alto saxophonist who draws inspiration from a lineage of powerful and dynamic alto players, including Cannonball Adderley, Jackie McLean, and Vincent Herring. These figures, as well as learning from Tony Kofi, Rachel Cohen and Jean Toussaint, have played a significant role in her growth as both an improviser and a composer, enabling her to project a rich sound over her swinging contemporary compositions, which have a hard-bop style. She is already a part of London’s vibrant Jazz scene, and has performed at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, Pizza Express Live Soho and the Jazz Cafe, to name a few. An exciting new voice on the London Jazz scene, Christ-Stéphane Boizi’s music is at once a vibrant celebration of Jazz’s great past, very much in the present and looking to the future. Notable for his inquisitive studious approach, relaxed poise and warm leadership, Boizi is a student of melody, harmony, rhythm and soul, striving to hone in on what makes the work of greats from across the rich history of jazz so powerful, and to apply these learnings in his own music. He has learnt from the great Byron Wallen, Trevor Mires and Winston Rollins. [embed]https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIee2NaEJpQqgYHiQ44uZExJx3Ezor1w&si=klY4DvWCUYt0mOPq[/embed]

Thu, Jul 9, 7:45 PM

Rachael Cohen Quintet

Vortex Jazz Club / Dalston / Map

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Rachael Cohen - Alto saxophone Bruno Heinen - Piano Alex Hitchcock - Tenor saxophone Tom Farmer - Double bass Jason Brown - Drums About Rachael Cohen, a London-based alto saxophonist and composer, is one of the brightest emerging stars of her generation. Her skills as a composer and improviser have gained her a great deal of attention in the UK and beyond. The Guardian notes: “Cohen takes a softly devious approach reminiscent of Lee Konitz – but, as with the canny Cool School veteran, the quietness is deceptive and the subtlety is in the weighting of phrases and the hipness with which she plays off the rhythm section.” Originally hailing from the Shetland Islands, Rachael began her musical education on the piano at age 4. She picked up the saxophone five years later, and kindled an early passion for improvisation. When she was 12, Miss Cohen’s family moved south from the Shetland Islands to Edinburgh, and she enrolled in the acclaimed City of Edinburgh Music School. There she studied with some of the UK’s most admired musicians, including saxophonist Martin Kershaw and pianist Lynda Cochrane. As lead Alto for a number of years in both the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and Tommy Smith’s Youth Jazz Orchestra, she cut her teeth early playing alongside great British and International artists and regularly frequenting venues top Jazz venues across the UK.

Timings: 1st Show Doors 7:00 PM, Music 7:30 PM – 1 set of music 2nd Show Doors 9:00 PM, Music 9:30 PM – 1 set of music Line-up: Chris Outhwaite - Piano Aleks Dimitrova - Double bass Miranda Radford - Drum kit Ollie Kelly - Alto Saxophone Emma Jackson - Tenor Saxophone Noah Black - Saxophone Diggory Keysr - Trumpet Louis Lodder - French horn Misha Fox - trombone Charlie Mellon - trombone About: Tony Kofi, a renowned saxophonist, composer, and educator, began his recording career with a tribute to the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, releasing the double award-winning album All Is Know. He will appear with his Tentet at the Vortex, performing the 1959 classic Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall performing compositions such as Friday 13th, Thelonious, Crepuscule with Nellie and Little Rootie Tootie, alongside a selection of other Monk compositions. The ensemble showcases some of the UK’s most exciting emerging jazz talent, featuring Chris Outhwaite (piano), Aleks Dimitrova (double bass), Miranda Radford (drums), and Louis Lodder (French horn). [embed]https://youtu.be/cd5rGoDqTyE?si=Yhg9gdcVyW9cjgPH[/embed]

“Cracking Latin-jazz quintet led by 606 proprietor Steve Rubie on flute and alto saxophone…explores these Latin jazz classics in great rhythmic style” Tonight we present an evening celebrating the joyous, rhythmic, delights of classic Brazilian MPB with the 606 Club’s outstanding Brazilian band “Samara”. Featuring the brilliant Brazilian vocalist Ligia Cabral alongside the powerful piano of Neil Angilley and the swinging flute of our “Guv’nor” Steve Rubie the band take you on a road trip around Brazil, with music from the South, the North, the North East and beyond. Hear the stories behind some of Brazil’s classic songs and join the band as they perform an infectious blend of Brazilian Samba, Baião, jazz & Latin while everyone has a great time!

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Myele Manzanza - Drums Faye Thompson - Alto saxophone Gloria Yehilevsky - Vibraphone Kirke Gross - cello Rio Kai - Double bass About Myele Manzanza brings a new ensemble to the legendary Vortex Jazz Club for an evening of adventurous contemporary music, featuring premieres of new works and exploratory improvisation at the edges of jazz and modern composition. With a striking lineup of alto saxophone, vibraphone, cello, double bass and drums, the group moves between intricate textures, rhythmic intensity and open sonic landscapes. Expect bold interplay, fresh compositions and a set of deeply collaborative music from one of the most forward-thinking voices in the London jazz scene [embed]https://myelemanzanza.bandcamp.com/[/embed]