At the Vortex is a live album by saxophonist Evan Parker, bassist Barry Guy, and drummer Paul Lytton.

[1][2][3][4][5] In his liner notes, recording engineer Martin Davidson stated that the recording was made before a "large enthusiastic audience," and noted: "Such an audience generally feeds-back to the musicians, spurring them on to even greater heights than usual, as happened on this occasion, resulting in music that is more outgoing than would probably occur in a studio situation.

Because it was done in perfect conditions, with all musicians in astonishing shape, on home court, so to speak...

"[7] Writing for All About Jazz, Robert Spencer commented: "This was one great night for all three: Both sets are tapestries of moods and textbook examples of how free playing can remain fresh and imaginative.

"[8] Peter Margasak of the Chicago Reader singled out Lytton's playing for praise, noting that he "contributes a frenetic sprawl of metallic clangs, crashes, thwacks, and patter, shifting from violent to delicate in a flash and perpetually driving the others into unexpected territory.