
"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 10 top jazz clubs in Europe by The Guardian. Weekly hosting the best in jazz music with Top International acts, playing blues, swing, funk, Latin Jazz and fusion.

Tristan Banks Quartet feat Gareth Lockrane
Friday April 25
Doors 7.30pm Show 8.30pm
“Impressive sense of immediacy”⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BBC Music Magazine "From the opening bars of the album’s title track which kicks off in an energetic style with bass clarinet proclaiming the melody, we know that this album is something special." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ UK Vibe
Tristan Banks (drums/composer), Gareth Lockrane (flutes), John Crawford (piano), Davide Mantovani (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, Steve Winwood, Dave Valentin, David Gilmour, Beverley Knight, Hexagonal, Peter King, Lewis Taylor, Guy Barker, Marcos Valle, Liane Carroll, Mike Lindup, Terry Callier, Da Lata, Jim Mullen, Carleen Anderson and Mayra Andrade.
Gareth Lockrane As a player, he has recorded with and appeared alongside a rich array of artists such as Bheki Mseleku, Dick Oatts, Quincy Jones, Phil Robson, James Taylor Quartet, Nikki Iles, Tom Cawley, Christine Tobin, Laurence Cottle, Gwilym Simcock, Louis Cole, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Jim Mullen, Incognito, Anita Wardell, Georgia Mancio and many others. He recently featured as a soloist on the soundtracks for the Michael Caine heist thriller “King Of Thieves”, the Steven Soderbergh political satire “The Laundromat” and the widely acclaimed all-star film “Don’t Look Up” directed by Adam McKay. He has also consistently appeared in the Downbeat US Critics Poll for many years as a "Rising Star" on flute.
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.
Since Davide Mantovani’s arrival in London in 1991, he has built up a solid presence on both live and studio scenes, playing with some illustrious Jazz, World and Pop artists around: Lisa Stansfield, Tony Allen (Fela Kuti), Baaba Maal, Seckou Keita, Zoe Rahman, Jim Mullen, Andy Sheppard, Jason Rebello, Natacha Atlas, Mulatu Astatke, Nana Vasconcelos, Alex Wilson, Kuljit Bahmra, Justin Adams, Cheick Lô, Baseckou Kouyate, Cheo Feliciano, Herman Olivera, Aster Aweke, Jean Toussant (Jazz Messengers), Antonio Forcione and many others.
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The Fontanas
Saturday April 26
Doors 7.30pm Show 8.30pm
Tough Latin and Brazilian grooves....and I’m loving it
Craig Charles, BBC Radio 6 Music
Rooted in soul and soaked in funky Latin & Brazilian influences, The Fontanas inhabit the irresistible sweet spot between tight funk grooves and swinging rhythms. The band will be performing tracks from their new record, The Fontanas Live, drawing influence from the likes of The Dap Kings and Banda Black Rio. Catch them for this special party as they trailblaze across the festival circuit this summer.


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Jose Neto - Netoband
Friday May 2
Doors 7.30pm Show 8.30pm
JOSÉ NETO – guitar FRANK MARTIN – keys GARY BROWN – bass CELSO ALBERTI – drums
The repertoire is unfailingly melodic/singable, the range of moods and textures and ways of ratcheting it all up and down quite mesmerising. It manages to be sophisticated, appealing and yet never over-clever or over-busy.
— Seb Scotney, UK Jazz News
Neto, originating from São Paulo, Brazil, began his guitar journey at a tender age, playing with bands and evading police at nightclubs until he reached legal age. He honed his classical guitar skills at the São Paulo Academy of Music. His career took a significant turn in 1978 when he moved to New York and became the guitar player and later, Musical Director, for the renowned Harry Belaponte. This bond lasted throughout Belafonte’s life. In addition, Neto has shared his talent with numerous world-class musicians including Eric Clapton, Herbie Mann, Jim Capaldi, Jorge Dalto, Paquito D'Rivera, Tania Maria, Carlos Santana and the Allman Brothers.
In addition to his band, Neto has been touring with Steve Winwood for 18 years, released solo albums, and featured in an award-winning documentary about his life, The Man Behind the White Guitar. He also co-founded jazz fusion band Fourth World with acclaimed percussionist Airto Moreira and vocalist Flora Purim.

