"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.
Donovan Haffner Quartet
Donovan Haffner: Alto saxophone
Piano: Laurie Rich
Double-bass: Harry Pearce
Drums: Kai MacRae
'Donovan Haffner, winner of the 'Jazz Newcomer' category at the Jazz Parliamentary Awards 2025 is a south-east London born and bred alto saxophonist.
Aged 11, Donovan joined the highly respected Tomorrow's Warriors Young Artist Development Programme and was mentored by Gary Crosby OBE, Binker Golding, and Alex Davis. He proved to be a stand-out talent and, by the age of 18, he was invited to tour Italy with multi-award-winning drummer Moses Boyd.
Since then, Donovan has played with Jay Phelps, Charlie Stacey, and Balimaya. He has also performed with the Danish jazz pianist/composer Rasmus Sorenson, Joshua Redman's pianist Paul Cornish as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, and was selected by Tony Kofi to be part of, American jazz legend, Charles Tolliver's Big Band, headlining at the Barbican as part of the London Jazz Festival. And Donovan is still very much part of the Tomorrow's Warriors musical family, performing with both Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Jazz Jamaica.
However, it is his growing reputation as a bandleader and composer in his own right that is set to see Donovan come to the attention of jazz fans across the country.
If you have already been lucky enough to catch Donovan play live in a venue (including London's Ronnie Scott's, The Jazz Café, and Pizza Express Live) or at a festival (We Out Here, Love Supreme), then you will have been struck not just by the drive and sophistication of his playing, but also how he interprets his own compositions. To see him leading his quintet is to go on a journey with him through the music he loves, straight ahead and contemporary jazz - drawing on the inspiration of the musicians that have influenced him, including Kenny Garrett, Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, and Walter Smith III – but enhanced with his own distinctive compositional style.'
Jackson Mathod
JACKSON MATHOD – trumpet, vocals
GABRIELE PRIBETTI – saxophone
JAMES BECKWITH – keys
EDMONDO CICHETTI – bass
HARRY POPE – drums
“Jackson Mathod plays with a genuine love for jazz music. His ability to convey truth in his solos is a tonic and his potential as an artist excites me. Jackson’s playing adheres to the values of blues, swing and community; he represents himself with honesty and dignity and reflects, in abundance, the characteristics that this music’s future will thrive on.”
— Julian Joseph, BBC Radio 3
Trumpeter and vocalist Jackson Mathod is one of the most exciting rising voices in contemporary UK jazz. Rooted in blues, swing and a deep sense of community, his sound balances tradition with forward-looking energy.
Alongside his work as a bandleader and performer on the jazz circuit, Jackson has quickly established himself as a sought-after session musician, collaborating with major artists including Stormzy and Jordan Rakei.
“I’m really trying to bridge the gap between me as an instrumentalist and a singer-songwriter,” says Jackson — a mission that defines his evolving artistry.
In a time where everything can feel heavy, Jackson’s music delivers a refreshingly simple and universal message: have fun, move, and immerse yourself in the sheer joy of great musicianship. His latest release, Come On Now, marks the next step in a journey that has already earned widespread acclaim, with strong support from BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 1Xtra, Jazz FM, Jamie Cullum, and Gilles Peterson.
With authenticity at its core and momentum building, Jackson Mathod represents the vibrant future of modern British jazz.
