"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.
Da Lata
“Entwines Brazilian music and London club culture to delightful effect…..sumptuous global fare” – The Observer
“Proper London Tropicalia” – Gilles Peterson
Carolina Lelis – Vocals
Chris Franck – Guitar
Carl Smith – Percussion
Matheus Nova – Bass
Marcinho Pereira – Drums
Antonio Rodrigo – Sax
With a new album to be released in October 2025,
Da Lata celebrate 25 years since the release of their debut album “Songs from the Tin”.
Founded by Chris Franck and Patrick Forge, they have released 5 albums and toured around the world performing on some of the worlds biggest stages including Coachella, Glastonbury, Roskilde, Summer Stage NY, Womad, We Out Here.
They have collaborated with some of the finest musicians from all over the globe including artists such as Jhelisa Anderson, Tony Allen, Mayra Andrade, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Luisa Maita, Bernie Worrell and have had the pleasure of remixing tracks for Carlinhos Brown, Marisa Monte, Bebel Gilberto, Femi Kuti, Sly and Robbie amongst many others.
Liam Noble / Geoff Simkins "Lucky Teeth"
Liam Noble: Piano
Geoff Simkins: Alto Saxophone
Taking their name, and not much else, from a late Victorian circus act involving the catching of turnips on a fork wedged between his front facing incisors, Noble and Simkins wind and swoop their way around melodies from classic standards to 80s pop. There’s a sense of danger and daring throughout, capturing, they’d like to think, some of the sheer terror and beauty of root vegetables in flight. Standards like “Stella By Starlight” and “When You’re Smiling” contrast with Duran Duran’s melodramatic “Save A Prayer” and the traditional folk song “Black Waterside”, provoking interaction both rumbustious and delicate, and perhaps a rethinking of what it means to be staring a speeding turnip in the face.
Liam Noble is one of the UK’s most distinctive pianists, known for his adventurous improvisation, imaginative compositions and wide-ranging collaborations. Equally at home in contemporary jazz, free improvisation and reinterpretations of classic repertoire, he has worked with leading figures including John Zorn, Evan Parker, Christine Tobin, and Paul Dunmall. His acclaimed recordings as a leader showcase his inventive approach to both original works and reimagined standards. A dedicated educator, Liam is Professor of Jazz Piano at the Royal Academy of Music, where he has influenced a generation of emerging musicians. His music blends intellect, wit and emotional depth in equal measure.
Geoff Simkins is an acclaimed alto saxophonist celebrated for his lyrical tone, subtle swing and deep-rooted connection to the jazz tradition. With a career spanning over four decades, he has performed at major festivals and clubs across the UK and Europe, working with leading international artists including Art Farmer, Kenny Wheeler, and Stan Tracey. A highly respected educator, Geoff has inspired generations of musicians through his teaching at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as workshops and masterclasses nationwide. His performances combine sophistication, warmth and improvisational fluency, making him a distinctive voice in British jazz.
“A philosopher’s stone of a listen with excellently authentic Vortex club sound captured when all the pieces of the puzzle seem to have slotted into place…sheer alchemy is only ever a stone’s throw away."
Stephen Graham, marlbank.net
