Live Jazz in London

This quintet features 606 Club owner and flautist Steve Rubie (Julian Joseph Big Band, Samara) and virtuoso trombonist Geoff Mason (Scott Hamilton), alongside a powerful rhythm section of David Gordon (Chris Garrick)-piano, Steve Watts (John Taylor)-bass & Winston Clifford (Courtney Pine)-drums, performing a mix of jazz standards, contemporary jazz tunes by the likes of Joe Zawinul and John Taylor and high energy Brazilian music. A world-class band. “Steve Rubie…in fine form.” Telegraph; “Mason…one of the UK’s leading jazz trombonists” All About Jazz; “Gordon…one of our most brilliant pianists” UK Jazz News

Tue, Jun 30, 7:45 PM

Finn Carter Quartet

Vortex Jazz Club / Dalston / Map

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 set(s) of music Line-up: Kaidi Akinnibi - Tenor Saxophone Finn Carter - Piano Joe MacLaren - Double Bass Blake Cascoe - Drums About Part of Finn Carter’s monthly residency at the Vortex showcasing a new project each month. This month, he starts his residency with his quartet, who have played to a sold-out Vortex crowd on multiple occasions. Led by pianist and composer Finn Carter, the members of this group all approach improvising from the same perspective: trying to serve the music and remove the ego from improvising. With credits including Loyle Carner, Olivia Dean, Sampha and Tom Misch, these in-demand players are all technically virtuosic, but the music they create together is more than that; it is sensitive, emotive and synergistic. “I’d be amazed if Londoner Carter doesn’t become the next most in-demand UK jazz pianist on the basis of this recording alone” – Stephen Graham, Marlbank “A fabulously talented piano player” – Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2 “This is his first solo release and it’s terrific…Finn has an ear for melody and an ability to leave space and build mood.” – Eddie Myer, Jazzwise “Carter's sensitive, mature and fluent piano is backed by some stellar performances, making this a remarkable debut” – Neil Duggan, All About Jazz “I have seen many established and renowned acts perform at Ronnie Scott’s since 1990 and never have I been so impressed” – DJ Fitzroy, Soul Survivors Magazine

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Lex Korten - Piano Caius Williams - Bass Mark Sanders - Drums About: New York-born performer and improviser Lex Korten makes his bandleading debut in London at Vortex Jazz Club on July 1, 2026, joined by world-class musicians Caius Williams and Mark Sanders. Praised by The Wire Magazine and described as having “a refreshing and virtuosic lyricism” by UK Jazz News, Korten has begun building a promising relationship with audiences across the UK as well as mainland Europe, representing bandleaders like Zoh Amba, Milena Casado, Simon Moullier, Or Bareket and London’s own Alex Hitchcock. Informed by long stints with Tyshawn Sorey, Melissa Aldana and other luminaries, Korten released his debut album ‘Canopy’ in 2025 to wide critical acclaim. Acknowledged by The New York Times, DownBeat, JazzTimes, WNYC and other outlets for a charismatic, vulnerable improvisatory approach, Korten seeks to nurture a deeper multidirectional experience between artists and listeners, and to honor his adopted home among the great Black American Musical art forms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2jYYH5aPFk[/embed] https://youtube.com/shorts/E2jYYH5aPFk?si=2pfai10qbUFHN3WY[\embed]

An exciting new voice on the UK jazz scene introduced to us by Claire Martin OBE – herself recognised as one of the world’s top jazz singers Maddie Martin is known for her distinctive “old soul” tone and gift for storytelling. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she brings a strong technical foundation to her approach, along with an affection for a wide range of styles including soul, blues, the Great American Songbook and contemporary jazz. Her influences, from Nancy Wilson, Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzgerald to Carmen McRae and Barbra Streisand exemplify that same aesthetic. A couple of months ago Maddie made her debut at the 606, celebrating the release of her debut single, “Dream Boy”, the first track from her forthcoming album, “Part One”. Now, for her second date we are delighted to welcome this excellent young singer and her quintet, Columbus Sandor piano, Joe Evans trombone, Guy Dempsey bass and Kai Macrae drums performing music from her forthcoming record alongside new live repertoire. Truly impressive stuff! “Maddie Martin is the real thing! An authentic young jazz singer with tone and time for days.” James McMillan; “Her voice and phrasing are the best we’ve heard for some time, and she has won accolades from top professionals.” Swanage Jazz Festival 2025; "...a star in the making. As soon as I heard her, I knew she was special. She has a warmth and beauty in her voice.” Claire Martin OBE

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]

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Will Cleasby - Drums Will Barry - Piano Riley Stone Lonergan - Tenor Saxophone Will Sach - Double bass About: The exciting and versatile drummer Will Cleasby’s subtle but powerful playing has been heard with a wide variety of high profile artists, including work alongside the likes of acclaimed US trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, Grammy award winner Kurt Elling and the multi-Award-winning Jamie Cullum on an impressive and growing CV. Tonight Will brings to the Club his latest project, a tribute to the great US drummer Elvin Jones (the band name is based on an Elvin tune “3 Card Molly”). Featuring Riley Stone-Lonergan-sax, Will Barry-piano & Will Sach-bass Will describes the programme as showcasing “some lesser-known tunes from Elvin’s solo albums from the 60s-80s, highlighting his writing and that of the members of those groups”. Terrific music from some seriously good players! [embed]https://youtu.be/QRi-8urGG_w[/embed]

Sat, Jul 4, 7:45 PM

Coltrane and Hartman on Impulse! feat. Mark Lockheart and Marvin Muoneké

Vortex Jazz Club / Dalston / Map

Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Mark Lockheart - Tenor saxophone Marvin Muoneké - vocals Alfonso Vitale - Drum kit Gary Crosby - Bass About Revisiting the famous album when John Coltrane teamed up with vocalist Johnny Hartman to explore their favourite romantic standards, tenor sax virtuoso Mark Lockheart is joined by the extraordinary vocalist Marvin Muoneké and a top-flight rhythm section of Gary Crosby (bass), Alex Webb (piano) and Alfonso Vitale (drums). As well as the songs from the 1963 Impulse album, the group explores other standards that Coltrane liked to play, including All Or Nothing At All, Out Of This World, Say It Again and a vocal version of Moment's Notice. The original album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013, 50 years after its release. ‘A new vocal sensation in the UK’ – JazzFM ‘A singing superstar in the making’ Jazzwise. Marvin Muoneké has been dubbed 'The Young Man with The Old Soul’ and once you hear his voice you'll understand why – his sound has been likened to Nat 'King' Cole, Johnny Hartman and Billy Eckstine. He has toured with the award-winning swing band, Down For The Count and sung with the Vince Dunn Orchestra and NYJO (the National Youth Jazz Orchestra). He is also a gifted songwriter, arranger and trumpet player. Saxophonist and composer Mark Lockheart first came to prominence in the mid 1980s with the influential big band Loose Tubes. The mid-90s saw Mark recording and performing with many artists including Django Bates, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, June Tabor, Robert Wyatt and Radiohead as well as his own group, Perfect Houseplants. In 2003 Mark joined Seb Rochford’s Polar Bear, which over a period of twelve years picked up two Mercury award nominations. In 2016 Mark was awarded Jazz FM Instrumentalist of the year and was nominated for the British Composer Awards for his composition ’With One Voice’. His new album, ‘Shapeshifter’, was release in March 2026. ‘Mark Lockheart has been at the centre of British music for four decades’ – UK JazzNews. ‘Saxophonist Mark Lockheart is assured of his place in musical history’ – ThejazzMann.com Alex Webb is a prolific songwriter, arranger and pianist, whose songs have been recorded by jazz singers China Moses, Mina Agossi, Sandra Nkake, Liane Carroll, Allan Harris, Vimala Rowe and Alexander Stewart, among others. Gary Crosby OBE is a leading jazz double bassist, bandleader, composer/arranger, educator, record producer, company director and facilitator, and was a founder member of the Jazz Warriors. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Tomorrow’s Warriors, providing a platform for talented young musicians who wish to pursue a career in jazz. Alfonso Vitale, from Messina, Sicily, is a top-drawer jazz and classical percussionist and one of the most in-demand drummers in London today. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pkOQUVkboE&t=4s[/embed]

Much-loved singer-songwriter Rebecca Hollweg has performed extensively both in the UK and abroad, including festivals at Rochefort en Accords in France, Vamos Festival in Crete and 5 and 55 Festival, Wijk an See in Holland plus numerous other gigs in France and Germany as well as the likes of the South Bank Centre, Union Chapel and Latitude Festival in the UK. Playing live, she is open and unpretentious and as one listener said ‘it feels like she is reaching out and enfolding you in a warm embrace’. The gig tonight marks the 25th Anniversary of her very first album "June Babies" and fittingly she will be appearing with the original lineup from that album: her husband Andy Hamill bass, Mike Outram guitar, Phil Peskett piano and Tom Gordon drums. Having now released four critically acclaimed albums Rebecca’s singing and her uplifting, melodic songs have long been celebrated and it's with great pleasure we welcome her once again back to the Club. “Just a beautiful sound, great vibe…absolutely stunning” BBC Radio 2; “Carole King couldn’t have come up with a better...song” Uncut; “A gifted tunesmith” Q Magazine; “'Exquisite vocal” Guardian