Vortex Foundation Big Band

Meet the band below

As part of the London Jazz Festival 2002 The Vortex Foundation Big Band's first gig at the Vortex Jazz Club in London's Stoke Newington was a sell out. The idea for the band had come from the Vortex's driving force of nearly 20 years, David Mossman.

It was the Vortex's close links with the local music community and especially the women that perform
there regularly that inspired David to get a big band together.

Charitable support for the project first came from the Vortex Jazz Foundation which had been set up in
reaction to the threat of the club's closure.

 

 

 

 

 

 
  The line up of band includes:

 

Andrea Vicari Piano & Keyboards
Alison Rayner Bass

Diane McLoughlin

Alto & Soprano saxes

Dave Blackmore  

Baritone sax

Barbara Snow

Trumpet & Flugel horn

Kay Charlton

Trumpet & Flugel horn

Sarah Williams

Trombone

 

 

 

 

 

Annie Whitehead spoke to Jazz UK (Issue 48 Nov/Dec 2002) about how the band came about:

''It’s been a busy time for me, because David Mossman – who runs the Vortex Club in Stoke Newington – asked me to form
an all-women big band to play at the club during the London Jazz Festival. In fact he said to me "I won’t do it at
all if it isn’t you." No pressure, or anything. But it’s wonderful to do, even though I’ve never felt that strong a desire to
write for a big-band line up myself. The writers will include Andrea Vicari, Deirdre Cartwright and Diane McLoughlin.

..............I wanted lots of different styles in it, but the idea was always that it would be music
we could all play and have fun on right away.''