"What a brilliant club" - Forbes 2025
THE VERDICT
APPJAG Jazz Venue of the Year 2024
The Verdict is a multi award winning grass roots music venue, the only full time Jazz venue outside of London in the south of England, it has been named as one of the best jazz clubs in the World by Star Insider. Weekly hosting the best in jazz music with Top International acts, playing blues, swing, funk, Latin Jazz and fusion.
Tristan Banks Quartet
“Impressive sense of immediacy”⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BBC Music Magazine
“A band of craftsmen playing the forms of acoustic jazz they relish, and their pleasure in that is infectiously palpable” John Fordham (Jazzwise)
“You can hear his bustling creativity” Soweto Kinch - BBC Radio 3
Tristan Banks - drums, compositions
Paul Booth - woodwind
John Crawford - piano
Mirko Scarcia - upright bass
Mixing influences from the jazz, latin and fusion idioms, his music is a unique combination of high-octane virtuosic performance. Drummer & composer Tristan Banks draws on over 30 years of experience as a sideman for many Grammy-award winning and multi-platinum selling artists.
Tristan Banks has worked as a recording artist and session musician building a reputation as a knowledgeable, versatile and authentic world-class drummer and percussionist. Working with many artists covering a wide field of musical genres including Roy Ayers, James Burton, Steve Winwood, Dave Valentin, Brian May, Van Morrison, Jeff Skunk Baxter, David Gilmour, Beverley Knight, Tony Remy, Peter King, Lewis Taylor, Guy Barker, Marcos Valle, Mike Lindup, Terry Callier, Da Lata, Carleen Anderson and Mayra Andrade.
Paul Booth is the in-demand sax man of today’s UK music scene. His ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has led to him being regularly chosen to perform with many well-known artists. Paul has toured, performed and recorded around the world with The Eagles, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Jamiroquai, Gregory Porter, Barry Manilow, Marti Pellow, Eddie Henderson, Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Ingrid Jensen. He has worked with Incognito, Brand New Heavies and The BBC Big Band.
John Crawford is one of the finest Latin/Jazz pianists on the scene, and brings impressive technique and musicianship to his blend of jazz, flamenco and Latin. He has worked with the likes of Latin legends Airto Moreira and Giovanni Hidalgo as well as UK based artists such as Snowboy and Roberto Pla. In addition his non-Latin work includes gigs with the likes of Bjork, Tanita Tikarem and Kirsty McColl.
Nigel Price Organ Trio
"Inventiveness, originality and ensemble playing are terrific."
★★★★ The Observer
“For me, this is how jazz should be; communicative and inclusive. Jazz performed this way feels like a gift, a ‘here, this is for you’ scenario.”
London Jazz News
Nigel Price - Guitar
Ross Stanley - Hammond Organ
Joel Barford - Drums
The Nigel Price Organ Trio, nominated for the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Award for 'Best ensemble' (they won in 2010) and winners of the 2016 British Jazz Award for ‘Best Small Group’ will be playing selections from their vast back catalogue as well as the recently released and critically acclaimed album ‘That’s it. Right there.’
Nigel is known for his clear, no nonsense, driving approach to jazz guitar and has steadily become one of the UK’s foremost exponents of the instrument.
Ross Stanley is not only one of the greatest ever UK musicians, he also plays a real B3 Hammond Organ complete with 2 Leslie speakers.
Joel Barford is the man of the moment and has been causing a stir across the UK and further afield with his incredible drumming ability.
Together they form perhaps the most hard hitting, dynamic and exciting jazz groups on the scene today.
Acclaimed British jazz guitarist celebrated for his rich tone, fluid technique, and powerful sense of swing. A former member of the James Taylor Quartet, he has led his own trios and quartets to critical and popular success, earning multiple British Jazz Awards. Deeply influenced by Wes Montgomery, Price combines bebop sophistication with bluesy warmth and groove-driven energy. He has performed at major UK venues and festivals, including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, where he is a regular headliner. Beyond performing, he is a passionate advocate for live jazz, dedicated to keeping the UK scene vibrant and accessible.
Ross Stanley is a highly acclaimed British Hammond organist, pianist, and composer, known for his soulful touch, harmonic sophistication, and versatility across jazz and beyond. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he has performed and recorded with leading artists including Nigel Price, Jim Mullen, and Stan Sulzmann. Renowned for his mastery of the Hammond B3, Stanley brings warmth, groove, and subtlety to every performance. His playing seamlessly blends jazz, blues, and gospel influences, earning him a reputation as one of the UK’s most in-demand musicians. He continues to perform internationally and contribute to numerous acclaimed recordings.
Joel Barford is a dynamic British drummer and composer, widely recognized for his explosive energy, precision, and deep musicality. A rising star of the UK jazz scene, he has performed with leading artists including Nigel Price, Ross Stanley, and Laurence Cottle, earning praise for his versatility across jazz, funk, and fusion. Known for his impeccable groove and inventive improvisation, Barford has appeared at major venues and festivals across the UK and Europe. Alongside his work as a sideman, he leads his own projects, showcasing his compositional flair and rhythmic sophistication. His playing reflects both modern innovation and timeless jazz tradition.
