"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.
Clark Tracey's Jazz Champions
Friday June 13
Doors 7.30pm Show 8.30pm
Clark Tracey - drums
Art Themen & Simon Allen - reeds
Dave Newton - piano
Andrew Cleyndert - double bass
Clark Tracey, a well-established jazz master, recognised as a most
inventive jazz drummer, composer, educator and bandleader, having
appeared over forty years in the company of some of the world’s jazz
greats.
A Five-Time Winner of “Best Drummer” in the British Jazz Awards,
Clark Tracey has built a reputation since the early ‘80s as a talent
spotter of future stars of the British jazz scene; Guy Barker, Alex Ridout,
Daniel Casimir, Zoe Rahman and Mark Armstrong, to name just a few.
Clark was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2019
Birthday Honours for services to music and the promotion of jazz.
Ray Gelato Quartet
Saturday June 14
Doors 7.30pm Show 8.30pm
Ray Gelato : Lead Vocal and Tenor Sax
Gunther Kurmary: Piano
Eleazar Ruiz : Bass
Steve Rushton : Drums
Ray Gelato numbers amongst his fans such great artists as Van Morrison, Paul McCartney and Brian Adams and for good reason. Every concert, club date or event that Ray performs at transforms one back in time to an era of music where musicians were not afraid to communicate and entertain.
Ray Gelato's Swing Quartet includes all of the elements that Ray’s worldwide fans love about him but in an intimate , small combo format. The idea being to present a complete repertoire of new songs, old favorites and Ray’s critically acclaimed original tunes. It's all here from Gelato's big toned, passionate tenor sax to his highly distinctive jazzy, swingin' vocals.
His driving rhythm section understands how to swing, rock and create excitement. This is all presented with a tough contemporary edge and the explosive energy that Ray is famous for. Ray has a long-established residency at London’s world-famous Ronnie Scott’s, where the band appears every Christmas.
This must-see event is always a sell-out. He has also performed for the late HM The Queen (twice), opened for Robbie Williams at the Albert Hall, and was chosen to play at Sir Paul McCartney’s wedding. In addition the band have played most of the top jazz festivals including Montreal, San Sebastián , The Lincoln Centre in New York and numerous appearances at Umbria Jazz in Italy . Ray has also played some of the most prestigious clubs in the world including Birdland in New York and The Blue Note in Milan For more info visit : www.raygelato.com
