2014

A highlight on the improvising calendar, it’s that time of year again for the delights of our Christmas party. A chance to hook up with old friends and meet new ones, it’s a great way to see some fine musicians in a more informal setting and experience the wide variety to be found in this music. This year’s event takes place in the afternoon, and heralds a move to afternoon concerts – still on the third Sunday of the month – in 2015.

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Martin Speake & Mark Sanders
• Richard Scott, Adam Linson, Phil Marks & David Birchall
• Kay Grant & Marcio Mattos
• Phil Wachsmann & Matt Hutchinson

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Yoko Miura, Jean Michel van Shouwburg & Lawrence Casserley
• Anthony Donovan, Matt Chilton & Noura Sanatian
• Guylaine Cosseron, Phil Minton & John Russell

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Emilio Gordoa & Roland Ramanan
• Dave Tucker, John Rangecroft & Marcio Mattos
• Pat Thomas & Emi Watanabe
• Stefan Keune & John Russell

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

FÊTE QUAQUA 2014 Since it’s inception in 1982 guitarist John Russell’s Fete Quaqua has brought together different musicians from around the world to share in a programme of free improvisation. Although some of the musicians have never played together before there are always existing collaborative strands to be found within the larger group. It is this development of existing traditions alongside the juxtaposition of previously divergent elements that Russell believes provide a fertile base for the musician’s improvisations.

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

QUAQUA ANGLO AUSTRIA With thanks to the Austrian Cultural Forum we present a two night Anglo Austrian improvised music meeting with Steve Beresford (piano / electronics) / Tanja Feichtmair (sax) / Satoko Fukuda (violin) / Henry Lowther (trumpet) / Maggie Nichols (voice) / Mario Rechtern (sax) / John Russell (guitar) / Roger Turner (drums / percussion) / Mia Zabelka (violin / voice). Each night will have a different programme of smaller combinations and also feature a large group with everyone playing together.

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Seth Bennett, Shaun Blezard, Anton Hunter, Rachel Musson, Shelly Knotts, Julie Kjaer & Steve Beresford
• Arthur Bull, Pascal Marzan & John Russell

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Chris Burn & Matt Hutchinson
• Jim Dvorak & Harrison Smith
• Paul Pignon & Thomas Bjelkeborn
• Phil Minton & John Russell

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Neil Metcalfe & Daniel Thompson
• Viv Corringham & Lawrence Casserley
• Caroline Kraabel, John Edwards & Cleveland Watkiss

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Andrea Caputo & Massimo Semprini
• Stephen Grew
• Nick Malcolm, Hannah Marshall & Lauren Kinsella
• John Russell & Kay Grant

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Noel Taylor, Tom Wheatley, John Garcia & Tommaso Vespo
• Ian Simpson, John Jasnoch & Neil Carver
• Alice Eldridge, Satoko Fukuda & John Russell

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

• Nicola Guazzaloca & Hannah Marshall
• Dave Tucker
• Urs Leimgruber & John Russell

📍 Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ