"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.
The Fontanas
The Fontanas are a London-based funk and soul collective celebrated for their lively fusion of Latin, Brazilian, and Afro-funk influences. The group brings together a flexible cast of musicians — brass, percussion, keys, guitar, bass and more — unified by a mission to deliver joyous, dance-driven music that channels both vintage grooves and contemporary energy.
Their debut album, Purple Patch, released in 2015, introduced their signature sound: tight funk rhythms imbued with Brazilian percussion and brass, producing short, punchy tracks that feel like a “carnival come early.” The album was recorded in a storied studio once owned by a rock legend, giving it a blend of vintage warmth and modern polish.
In 2021, The Fontanas returned with their sophomore full-length record, The Luxury Of Time — an album born out of the slow-down of lockdown, reflecting both introspection and celebratory energy. The record spans soulful male and female vocals, Latin-inflected grooves, and a varied palette: from funk and reggae-tinged tracks to steel-drum-laced rhythms and even music-hall-flavoured songs.
Fronted by powerful vocals from singer Kay Elizabeth, and shaped by producer / songwriter Sam Fontanas, the band includes a rotating cast of London-based musicians whose combined talents help the group cross genres seamlessly. Over the years, The Fontanas have built their reputation chiefly through spirited live performances, becoming a staple on the UK and European festival circuit. Their shows — often described as “feel-good,” “uplifting,” and “funk to the fullest” — have struck a chord with fans of funk, soul, Latin and dance music alike.
In short, The Fontanas represent a melting pot of soul, funk, Latin and Brazilian flavours — a collective constantly evolving, but always grounded in groove, rhythm and dance.
Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson Quartet
Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson - saxes
Larry Bartley - bass
Robert Mitchell - piano
Mark Mondesir - drums
Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson has led bands including some of the leading lights of jazz including Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Bheki Mseleku, Mark Mondesir, Aldo Romano and Gary Husband. He has also performed with legends of jazz including Kenny Kirkland, Branford Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Courtney Pine and many others. He released a suite of albums in the mid-nineties, the aptly titled ‘Emergence’ being the first. It has been described as “an accomplished, powerful and spiritually uplifting album”. ‘The Gift’ followed a year later and is imbued with a spirit of joy and release. In 1999 Vaughan released ‘See You There’, featuring the great South African pianist Bheki Mseleku, Mark Mondesir on drums and Jeremy Brown on acoustic bass. The album and subsequent tour cemented Vaughan’s reputation as a world class performer and was followed in 2001 by the live release of the band in fiery form ‘Live at The Wardrobe’. In 2005 Vaughan wrote ‘The Freedom Suite’ which receiving its premier performance at The Purcell Room in London featuring Julian Joseph on piano and Gary Husband on drums.
Larry Bartley is a bassist/composer who has been a staple of the London & internautional jazz scene since the 1990s, and has played and/or recorded in the bands of: Abdullah Ibrahim, Denys Baptiste, Steve Williamson, Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, ingrid laugbrock, Jean Toussaint, Chris Briscoe, Basil Hodge, Adrian Reid (Jazz Warriors) Stanley Turrentine, Steve Grossman, Bennie Maupin, Harold Mabern, Chico Freeman, Donald Brown (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers), David Murray, Orinn Evans, Gary Bartz and many others.
Robert Mitchell (born 1971) is a highly respected British jazz pianist, composer, educator and poet. Growing up in Ilford, London, he studied at City University and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama—where he is now Professor of Jazz Piano. Over a career spanning more than thirty years, he has released more than a dozen albums under his own name, toured over 40 countries, and collaborated with major figures across jazz, classical, poetry and improvisation. Mitchell leads several projects—bands such as TRUE THINK, Epiphany3, The Flame, and a piano-trio Little Black Book—while also performing solo, composing, and producing original works that draw on jazz, classical, poetry and experimental soundscapes. Also a published poet and author, he has extended his artistry beyond music to writing and spoken-word. As an educator, he mentors young musicians and helps shape the next generation of jazz talent.
Mondesir began his career in 1984 as part of Ian Carr's workshops at the Weekend Arts Center. Mondesir worked with Courtney Pine between 1985 and 1989 and recorded with Kevin Eubanks in 1991. I n the 1990s, Mark Mondesir accompanied musicians who were visiting the UK; these included Art Farmer, Hermeto Pascoal and John Scofield. Mondesir played with Pee Wee Ellis's Assembly in 1996. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he was part of bands led by pianist Julian Joseph. Mondesir was part of guitarist John McLaughlin's 4th Dimension Band for their "To the One" album, which was recorded in 2009. He played with the Jazz Warriors, the Jazz Crusaders, the Marsalis-Bothers, Julian Joseph, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Art Farmer, Joanne Brackeen, Kevin Eubanks, Gary Thomas, McCoy Tyner, Joe Zawinul, Barbara Dennerlein, John Scofield, John Serry, Orphy Robinson and Loose Tubes.
