11 Gillett Square
Fri 4 Sept · 19:00 · £18
Photo Credit: Dave Stapleton Timings: 1st Show Doors 7:00 PM, Music 7:30 PM – 1 set of music 2nd Show Doors 9:00 PM, Music 9:30 PM – 1 set of music Line-up: Sultan Stevenson - Piano Jacob Gryn - Double bass Will Cleasby - Drums About: We are very excited to welcome back pianist and composer Sultan Stevenson to the Vortex for this special performance, giving audiences a glimpse of the music that will feature in his upcoming album which is due for release in 2027. “His way of placing silences and making a simple four-note lick grow into something significant showed an incipient master at work.” – The Telegraph Pianist Sultan Stevenson is one of the fastest emerging young artists on the London jazz scene and soon to be Europe. Sultan is the current BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artist for 2026 - 2028, an award that reflects the recognition of his enormous talent. Sultan is the winner of The UK Parliamentary Award for “Best Newcomer 2023”. To follow up, Sultan has been nominated for a Jazz FM Award 2025 in the category of Breakthrough Act of the Year. As a teenager he has benefitted from the education of the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and Tomorrow’s Warriors, following that, he graduated from The Guildhall School of Music in 2023. However, he emerged on the scene in 2022, with a rapidly developing artistic voice. He started playing his own music alongside regular bandmates Jacob Gryn and Joel Waters. Jazz Re:freshed, The Jazz Cafe, The Vortex and The EFG London Jazz Festival are just some of the numerous places in which Sultan has wowed audiences. Sultan cites McCoy Tyner, Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen and Ahmad Jamal as some of his biggest inspirations. 2023 saw the release of his debut album, Faithful One. He performed at The Love Supreme Festival and later that year he toured Ireland, culminating with an appearance at The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. 2024 saw an awakening for the Sultan outside the UK. He performed in Texas at the famous SXSW Festival and more importantly performed a showcase at Jazzahead. His appearance in Bremen led to other European engagements at Jazz Jantar in Gdansk, Jamboree in Barcelona, Bologna Jazz Festival, Bird’s Eye in Basel, Riv38 in Paris and a prestigious gig at Duc des Lombards. Sultan released his 2nd album, El Roi, in March 2025 on Edition Records. The launch concert was held in the prestigious Purcell Room of the South Bank Centre. Notable engagements on his album tour include Jazz Dock in Prague, King Georg in Cologne, Jassmine in Warsaw and Unterfahrt in Munich. Sultan Stevenson is, without doubt, what a jazz superstar looks like in the making!
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.