"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.
John Crawford Quintet
John Crawford - piano
Guille Hill- guitar
Andres Ticino- percussion
Davide Mantovani - bass
Tristan Banks- drums
"John has a cracking quintet... unlike anything else on the current scene." Paul Pace, Ronnie Scott's
"A glorious piano solo...everyone there that night agreed that a man to watch out for is pianist John Crawford, a skillful and imaginative soloist" John Childs, Jazzwise Magazine
“Ulia River of Time” is a hugely enjoyable album. Although Crawford contributes only one original tune his choice of material to cover is inspired, every piece is highly melodic and Crawford’s arrangements are consistently bright and inventive."Ian Mann, www.thejazzmann.com
John Crawford is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading Latin jazz pianists, celebrated for his distinctive fusion of jazz, flamenco, and Latin musical traditions. A highly expressive and technically accomplished performer, Crawford brings both passion and precision to his playing, creating music that is rhythmically vibrant, melodically rich, and deeply engaging.
Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with an impressive range of internationally acclaimed artists, including Latin music legends Airto Moreira and Giovanni Hidalgo, as well as leading UK figures such as Snowboy and Roberto Pla. His versatility has also led to performances beyond the Latin jazz world, working with artists including Björk, Tanita Tikaram, and Kirsty MacColl.
Crawford’s debut album, Ulia River of Time, received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for Best Jazz Recording at the 2013 Independent Music Awards. Praised for its melodic strength and inventive arrangements, it established him as a significant voice on the contemporary jazz scene. His follow-up release, Times and Tides, further cemented his reputation, described as “Latin flavoured jazz from a master of the genre.”
Known for his dynamic live performances, Crawford leads a quintet that delivers an exciting blend of reimagined flamenco classics alongside original compositions and contemporary Latin jazz pieces. His music is both sophisticated and accessible, appealing to dedicated jazz listeners and new audiences alike.
With a third album, Room for Dancing, showcasing fresh material, John Crawford continues to push creative boundaries while remaining rooted in the rich traditions that inspire his sound.
John Etheridge's Blue Spirits
John Etheridge - guitar
Pete Whittaker - organ
Tristan Banks - drums
‘No doubting his awesome authority whenever he touches the guitar’ ( The Guardian)
‘I never wanted to be a star just a highly respected musician like John Etheridge ‘(Sting –The Guardian 1980)
Drawing on a vast reservoir of musical experience spanning 54 years, Etheridge distills the bluesier side of his musical world in a repertoire that manifests intensity and emotion as it’s main quality with subtlety, fluidity and interaction as central.
Pete Whittaker is a superb accompanist and soloist and drummer Tristan Banks ( Verdict’s own!) is celebrated for his drive and invention.
The repertoire is edgy and engaging with a forceful drive and bravura performances….A must!
John Etheridge rightly enjoys a glowing reputation throughout the jazz world and beyond and has been described by Pat Metheny as, "One of the best guitarists in the world". He is a prodigiously gifted and creative player whose approach to music can only be described as 'eclectic' as he refuses to accommodate or even acknowledge artificial musical boundaries. His range is well illustrated by his years of touring and recording with the iconic Stephane Grappelli while simultaneously doing likewise with the legendary jazz-fusion group, The Soft Machine. John is equally at home on acoustic and electric guitar and his willingness to engage with so many styles is matched by his ability to excel in any of them. He has played with Yehudi Menuhin, Dizzie Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Nigel Kennedy, Pat Metheny, Birelli Lagrene, Barney Kessel, Vic Juris and countless others. John's ability as an outstanding composer is sometimes overlooked but he is often under pressure from audiences to feature more of his own material.
