"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.
Ian Shaw
“Ian Shaw is one of the most intelligent and emotionally compelling jazz singers of his generation.” — The Guardian
Ian Shaw returns to The Verdict Jazz Club with a performance that promises world-class jazz, sharp storytelling, and an unforgettable live experience. One of the UK’s most distinctive and celebrated jazz vocalists, Shaw is renowned for performances that are intelligent, emotionally charged, and consistently engaging—perfectly matched to the intimate, listening-focused atmosphere of The Verdict.
A multiple BBC Jazz Award winner and MOBO-nominated artist, Ian Shaw has built an international reputation as a singer who combines virtuosic technique with fearless musical curiosity. His recordings are critically acclaimed, but it is on stage—up close and personal—where Shaw truly shines. At The Verdict, audiences can expect a performance full of spontaneity, warmth, and connection, with every song shaped by the moment and the room.
Shaw has appeared at leading venues and festivals worldwide, including Ronnie Scott’s, the London Jazz Festival, and the Montreal Jazz Festival, and has collaborated with major figures of contemporary jazz such as Gwilym Simcock, Jason Rebello, John Taylor, and Iain Ballamy. His repertoire moves seamlessly between reimagined jazz standards, striking original material, and unexpected song choices, delivered with insight, humour, and emotional honesty.
What sets Ian Shaw apart is his ability to bring audiences with him. His performances are rich with storytelling—sometimes witty, sometimes provocative, often deeply moving—creating a sense of shared experience that resonates long after the final note. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz listener or discovering live jazz for the first time, Shaw’s ability to communicate directly and authentically makes his shows immediately accessible and deeply rewarding.
Alongside his performing career, Shaw is Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music, mentoring many of today’s leading jazz vocalists. This depth of musical authority underpins performances that are polished yet daring, sophisticated yet human—an ideal fit for The Verdict’s reputation for presenting artists at the very top of their craft.
This appearance at The Verdict Jazz Club offers a rare chance to experience one of jazz’s true originals in an intimate setting. Expect outstanding musicianship, bold interpretation, and a night of jazz that is smart, soulful, and unmistakably alive.
Esther Bennett Quartet
“Vocalist Esther Bennett’s many virtues include an incredibly seductive lower register and a winning sense of humour”
– Jazz Wise Magazine
Esther begins 2026 with real momentum, following a standout January performance alongside Ian Shaw at PizzaExpress Dean Street, and is delighted to return to The Verdict for this special appearance.
Her repertoire for this event draws from the albums and projects she has written, produced, and developed over the past several years. Deeply rooted in storytelling and musical exploration, Esther’s work moves fluidly between original material, reimagined standards, and new interpretations that reflect her ongoing creative journey. At tonight’s gig, she will also present music from a recent and particularly personal project in which she has written lyrics to compositions by the legendary Wayne Shorter, bringing her distinctive voice and poetic sensibility to these iconic works.
Esther is joined by one of her favourite musical collaborators, pianist Mark Edwards, with whom she shared a long-running residency in Brighton some years ago. Their musical relationship is marked by deep trust, subtle communication, and a shared love of risk and spontaneity. On double bass is Richard Sadler, a regular gig mate and valued contributor to Esther’s albums, whose sensitive, lyrical playing provides both grounding and forward motion. Completing the quartet on drums is The Verdict’s own Tristan Banks, a world-class musician and formidable presence whose energy, imagination, and musical authority bring a powerful dynamic to the group.
Together, this quartet offers a richly textured and highly responsive musical experience, shaped by years of shared history, deep listening, and a collective commitment to the moment. Expect music that is carefully crafted yet open, sophisticated yet emotionally direct.
One of the most respected and beloved vocalists on the British jazz scene, Esther is known for her individuality, originality, and unmistakable voice. Her innate musicality was shaped in her early years as a saxophonist and through an in-depth study of the language of jazz, resulting in a style that blends elegance, freedom, and a blues-inflected sensibility rooted in her Birmingham upbringing.
Since the release of her debut album Just in Time in 2005, Esther has built a prestigious career, performing at leading venues including Ronnie Scott’s, PizzaExpress Dean Street, and the 606 Club, as well as touring widely across the UK and Southern Spain. Renowned for her warmth, wit, and compelling stage presence, she consistently captivates audiences with performances that are as engaging as they are musically rewarding.
Alex Clarke Quartet
‘Out of the Woods’ — 2026 Album Tour
Touring in 2026, Alex Clarke presents her latest album, Out of the Woods, celebrating the legacy of alto saxophonist Phil Woods. Featuring fresh reworkings of both classic and lesser-known Woods repertoire, alongside original compositions inspired by his distinctive sound, this exciting project showcases Alex’s deep connection to the bebop tradition.
Performing with her stellar quartet — featuring some of the finest names in British jazz — audiences can expect an evening of fiery straight-ahead jazz, innovative arrangements, and thrilling interplay.
★★★★ — Jazzwise
"It’s easy to see why Clarke has become such a popular figure with British jazz audiences" — Ian Mann
"Small group jazz of the highest quality and unreservedly recommended" — Jazz Views
As a finalist in BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards, and a three-time nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Alex Clarke is widely recognised as one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to emerge on the British jazz scene.
Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and deep knowledge of repertoire across a broad spectrum of styles, Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of bebop. Her respect for the heritage of the music is heard in a fiery, melodic approach inspired by Phil Woods, Sonny Stitt, and Cannonball Adderley.
As a bandleader, Alex leads her quartet featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians: David Newton (piano), Dave Green (bass), and Steve Brown (drums). In Autumn 2025, she released her latest album, Out of the Woods, celebrating the legacy of alto saxophonist Phil Woods. The quartet has toured extensively, appearing at leading clubs, theatres, and festivals including Swanage Jazz Festival, PizzaExpress Jazz Club Soho, and Scarborough Jazz Festival.
Alongside her work as a leader, Alex performs with many of the UK’s most respected jazz artists including Alan Barnes, Alex Garnett, Mark Nightingale, Bruce Adams, and Art Themen, and regularly works with prestigious larger ensembles such as The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, the Simon Spillett Big Band, and Down for the Count.
As a session musician, Alex has recorded for numerous projects ranging from folk to Northern Soul, including sessions at Abbey Road Studios. In musical theatre, she held the woodwind chair on the 2024 UK & Ireland tour of 101 Dalmatians.
As an educator, Alex worked in the Music Department at Warwick School for three years and has tutored for organisations including the National Youth Jazz Collective and the Royal Northern College of Music, delivering workshops, summer schools, and saxophone days across the country.
Alex is proud to be an official Vandoren Artist, using Vandoren reeds and accessories across all horns.
