The Verdict
10th Anniversary Celebration
The Verdict has been named as one of the 10 top jazz clubs in Europe by The Guardian. Brightons only purpose jazz club hosting the best in jazz music.
Now with covid-safe ventilation.

Julian Nicholas / David Beebee Quartet
Friday May 20th
doors 7pm / show 8:30pm

QOW TRIO
Saturday May 21st
doors 7pm / show 8:30pm

QOW Trio Live at The Verdict Jazz Club
Riley Stone Lonergan - Woodwind
Spike Wells - Drums
Eddie Myer - Double Bass
The trio initially got together through their mutual love of Sonny Rollin's classic piano-less trios of the1950s but soon found themselves expanding their repertoire to explore the rich and varied territory laid out by the great tradition of big-toned tenor players over the generations. “I love playing with this band because it combines both my love of the wonderful tradition of our jazz forebearers with my love of absolute freedom and the feeling that anything could happen,” says Lonergan.
The album was recorded live across a single charged afternoon and features eight of the trio’s favourite classics including ‘You Do Something For Me’ and ‘Slow Boat ToChina’ as well as 'Qowfirmation', a tribute to the bop masters and their enduring legacy.
The music captures the spontaneous interplay that has always been at theheart of jazz. “It was the most enjoyable time I've ever had in a recording studio, comments Wells. “The engineer is the laid back and utterly skilful Ben Lamdin who delights in producing a magnificent jazz drums sound. Not a booth, partition or headphone in sight - the real Rudy Van Gelder deal!
”The trio pool their different takes on the music they love, coming at each tune from their own angle, informed by their own generation’s perspective. Myer concludes,“that’s how we see QOW TRIO – looking back to the heroes of the music, andlooking forward to a future of endless, unlimited possibilities.”
Riley Stone Lonergan: www.rileystonelonergan.wordpress.com
Riley Stone Lonergan’s primary focus as a music creator is improvisation, the element of Jazz that brings him the most joy. His entire life and career is driven by the desire to both improvise and he arother people improvise, it is the highest level of creativity and artistic expression. As well as QOW Trio,Londergan co-leads two other projects (Family Band and Tarel/Lonergan Quartet) and leads his own band in London. He has performed all around the world.
Spike Wells: www.spikewells.co.uk
Spike Wells has enjoyed an astonishing career, starting in swinging 60s London and playing with everyone from Stan Getz to Roland Kirk to Joe Harriot. He is perhaps best known for his long and close association with two of the greatest British tenor legends, Tubby Hayes and Bobby Wellins.
Eddie Myer: www.eddiemyer.co.uk
Eddie Myer is a familiar figure on the Brighton scene performing with alt rock band Turin Brakes, Afro-Cuban outfit Son Guarachando and the Eddie Myer 5tet. He also runs the project New Generation Jazz which helps young artists develop their audiences outside London and introduces young people inBrighton and the South-East to jazz.
“Their playing just reminds you of the joy of being alive, and in these troubled times there can be no better medicine than great music played well.” Jazz Views
“Their debut record sounds like a series of spontaneous, direct and honest conversations, taking place across time and space, with melody, swing, warmth and passion for the music as the constant factors throughout.” ! Jazzwise
“This music is wonderful stuff and failing to buy this album would be a terrible mistake.” ★★★★★ BBC Music Magazine
Julian Nicholas / David Beebee Quartet Live at The Verdict Jazz Club
Julian’s returns to The Verdict is by way of the Brighton launch that Covid postponed! Their packed London Vortex launch of this critically enthusiastically received album in 2019 shone a deserved spotlight on David Beebee’s striking and melodic compositions.
Julian Nicholas - Woodwinds
David Beebee - Piano
Kuba Cywiński - Double Bass
Eric Ford - Drums
Julian Nicholas Jimmy Witherspoon, Carleen Anderson, Eddie Henderson, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Kirk Lightsey, Bobby Wellins, Nikki Iles, Stan Tracey, Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana, Loose Tubes, Brotherhood Of Breath, Lianne Carroll, Claire Martin.“Nicholas is characteristically sure-footed and affecting - he has one of the most winsome tenor sounds in the UK and his soprano tone is simply exemplary in its keening purity.“ Chris Parker – The Wire
https://www.juliannicholas.co.uk
David Beebee Julian Arguëlles, Reem Kelani, Julian Costello.“David Beebee’s piano delivers a wealth of ideas, intricately conceived harmony, fleet fingered soloing and lush arpeggiated textures. An ambitious project, impressively realised.” Nick Lea - Jazz Views
Kuba CywińskiPhilharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera Orchestra
“...highlighting Cywinski’s precise articulation and awesome accuracy.” Eddie Myer - Jazzwise
Eric Ford
Jason Rebello, Pee Wee Ellis, Marc Almond, Jim Mullen
“...the precision with which he plays complex patterns is a constantly striking feature” John Fordham – The Guardian