Find what is happening tonight, tomorrow, and this week across London jazz rooms, clubs, and neighborhood stages, with ticket status and venue context first.
Jazz DateBook refreshes listings from venue calendars, ticket pages, radio/community datebooks, and other public source listings. Confirm the source listing before you go; send corrections, missing shows, and venue submissions through Open Ear Media.
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]
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]
Doors 6:45 PM, Music 7:15 PM - 1 set of music About: BoNo - Bonney/Noble - Trumpet/Drums After making multiple unreleased recordings together, the duo performs at the Vortex Jazz Club for the first time. Steve Noble is London’s leading drummer, a fearless and constantly inventive improviser whose super-precise, ultra-propulsive and hyper-detailed playing has galvanized encounters with Derek Bailey, Matthew Shipp, Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith, Stephen O’Malley, Joe McPhee, Alex Ward, Rhodri Davies and many, many more. In the early eighties, Noble played with the Nigerian master drummer Elkan Ogunde, Rip Rig and Panic, Brion Gysin and the Bow Gamelan Ensemble, before going on to work with the pianist Alex Maguire and with Derek Bailey (including Company Weeks 1987, 89 and 90). He was featured in the Bailey’s excellent TV series on Improvisation for Channel 4 based on his book ‘Improvisation; its nature and practise’. He has toured and performed throughout Europe, Africa and America and currently leads the groups N.E.W (with John Edwards and Alex Ward) and DECOY (with John Edwards and Alexander Hawkins). Alex Bonney is a trumpeter, electronic musician and recording/mix/mastering engineer and producer based in London. He performs internationally with several groups including Pando Pando, Leverton Fox, Scarla O’Horror, Brass Mask, light.box, Olie Brice’s Quintet and Octet, in duo with Will Glaser as well as many informal improv collaborations with leading improvisers on the UK scene. He is also in demand in the studio and works for a great variety of artists on their album releases for leading record labels including ECM.
Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM - 2 sets of music Line-up: Ricardo Grilli - Guitar Ferg Ireland - Double bass Jason Brown - Drums About: Hailed by the New York Times as a “post-bop guitarist with a taste for the ultramodern," Ricardo Grilli takes the stage at the Vortex Jazz Club for the first time. Backed by the commanding, inventive voice of bassist Ferg Ireland and the three-time Grammy-nominated drive of drummer Jason Brown, this debut performance promises an evening of sophisticated compositions, improvisation, stellar chemistry and energy. Experience a cutting-edge international trio in London's premier listening room. "... a post-bop guitarist with a sideline interest in the cosmos and a taste for the ultramodern." - Nate Chinen, New York Times “...Grilli’s considerable chops are in full effect in each setting... This is an admirable outing by a new face on the scene. - Bill Milkowski, Downbeat Magazine “Excellent, can’t stop listening!” - Steve Greenlee, Jazz Times [embed][/embed]
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]
Doors 3:30 PM, Music 4:00 PM - 2 sets of music About Trumpet legend Henry Lowther is in the prime time of his life. A mainstay of the band for over 30 years, the LJO is about to launch their double LP of Lowther’s music, “Primetime”, on his 85th birthday on 11 July. Henry is one of the few players in jazz whose expressive sound is immediately recognisable - he sounds like no one else, and his playing and writing has helped define the sound of the LJO over its 35 years. In advance of the album launch, this gig features the great music he has created for the band.
