Nice club in North London. A bit cramped, but the acoustics were OK. Good local vibe in the area outside with good options for casual food and drink. The drinks in Vortex were reasonably priced, but not the best. Run by volunteers, who were all passionate about the place. The main downside is the poor connections by public transport. It makes an interesting counterpoint to Ronnie Scott's, the other main Jazz venue in London.
Esme Li279 days ago
Vortex refurbished! The stage area being against one long wall and seats now arranged in 3 rows around it gives a very intimate atmosphere. Gone are most of the little round cafe tables giving a much friendlier feel. Sound system upgraded at great expense - a worthwhile largesse but reflected in the increase in ticket and drink prices. A new practice is to have two gigs in one night and you choose which session you wish to see. The venue is run by volunteers so often wants to close promptly after the end of the last gig. Alas the downstairs bar is currently closed so no longer can we continue the musical conversations there. Through its connections and history, the Vortex gets some of the best contemporary jazz artists performing. Well worth a visit.
Gary W340 days ago
Such a great night out tonight at Vortex, John Etheridge gtr with Ian Thomas dms and Jim Watson keys just blew us away with exquisite blues / jazz! And possibly the finest version of Little Wing ever played in there ... And the volunteer staff are to be highly commended indeed, a great venue, one of the best in London
Iannis Koufaelas1 year ago
One of the best at its kind!! Excellent live music, impro-freejazz and whatever it has the jazz feeling.
David Osumi-Sutherland1 year ago
A North London Institution. Consistently great bookings. Decent acoustics. A labour of love by the volunteers who run it. Site of many great musical experiences for me. (Although I still miss the old site in Stoke Newington before shyster developers turfed them out and demolished the building).
Patrick Julien1 year ago
Small, intimate jazz club, slightly off the beaten track. NFP status may be reflected in the price of the drinks, but it is currently hosting some very good jazz artists!!
D Oon1 year ago
Wonderful venue for jazz. Great selection of artists, friendly staff and drinks are reasonably priced.
Dutty Jujja1 year ago
Top venue, there were not enough chairs oit when I went, but thats because Nikki Yeoh was playing and the venue wasn't expecting a full house. The drinks are a bit too pricey.
The drinks are a bit too pricey.