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

Multi-award-winning saxophonist and producer Pete Wareham has long been involved in some of the most innovative projects in British music, including the Award winning Acoustic Ladyland, Melt Yourself Down (both his own bands), Sons of Kemet & Polar Bear. More recently Pete has also been making a significant name for himself as an exciting and creative producer. And while he’s associated with genre-defying, crossover styles, he’s also a brilliant player in the modern jazz tradition. Mark Lockheart is a multi-award-winning tenor sax player who first made his name working with seminal band Loose Tubes in the eighties, was co-founder of the universally regarded “The Perfect Houseplants”, has toured and recorded with Django Bates, Mike Gibbs, Mark Anthony Turnage and Seb Rochford’s highly acclaimed “Polar Bear”. A former Peter Whittingham Award winner, his album "Ellington In Anticipation" was the MOJO Album of the Year 2014 and he was named Jazz FM’s “Instrumentalist of the Year” 2016. This is a really exciting gig as it will be the first time that Pete and Mark have worked together since their days with Polar Bear. The music will be a selection from the likes of Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Ornette Coleman and Joe Henderson, plus original tunes that both Pete and Mark are writing specifically for this show! Promises to be a very special night of great music making from two masters of their craft. Also featuring Tom Herbert bass, Emre Ramazanoglu drums. “Wareham was the star of the show…showing time and time again why he is such a respected presence on the UK jazz scene” UK Jazz News; "Lockheart is a consummate saxophonist” The Rough Guide to Jazz; “Lockheart…inspired and imaginative” The Times

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]

A rare one-off performance & first meeting as a trio between guitarist David Preston , bassist Robin Mullarkey and drummer Gary Husband. David Preston has been described by the Guardian as “Virtuosic” and Time Out as “A superb modern jazz guitarist”. A finalist at the Montreux International Guitar competition, he released his 2-part debut album ‘Purple / Black’ on Whirlwind Recordings in 2023/24. Robin Mullarkey is known for his involvement with the UK broken beat movement, producing two ground-breaking LPs fusing his academic jazz background with the contemporary dance aesthetic in the band Brotherly. He has recently been touring with Jacob Collier & Donny McCaslin. Gary Husband is one of a rare breed of musicians in that his expression is divided equally in his capacity as a drummer, pianist and keyboardist of international repute. For close to four decades, Gary has worked alongside a vast and eclectic range of celebrated musicians including John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Gary Moore & many others. The trio will perform a unique repertoire of originals tailored for the occasion, choice interpretations of favourite classics and spontaneous improvisations - truly not to be missed. "[Preston] Reimagining jazz – with modern invention and creative innovation" Jazz Journal; “UK's hottest jazz guitarist” Musica Terra Magazine (Japan); “Bassist Robin Mullarkey has been wowing audiences for years... perfect groove and a bass tone to die for.” No Treble; "A relentlessly inventive drummer with a voice all of his own" Jazzwise; "One of the most dynamic and musical drummers of our time" Rhythm Magazine Photo, David Preston by Miguel Altunaga Jr; Gary Husband by Birgit Fostervold; Robin Mullarkey by Carl Hyde.