There’s a palpable buzz as Steve Fishwick’s Anglo-American crew take the stage for the last show on their successful UK tour – a sense of occasion created by a standing room-only crowd and the shared knowledge that The Verdict has just been voted one of the 10 best jazz clubs in Europe by The Guardian.
On the band's website, beside big ups from Gilles Peterson, Modern Drummer and the BBC, there's a quote from Steve Gadd that says it was his love of organ groups, and the appreciation Danish saxophonist Michael Blicher has for New Orleans drumming, that brought them together.
Music may be the healing force of the universe but it’s not helping scheduled guest Gareth Lockrane tonight – he’s off with a heavy dose of winter flu.
For such a bijou venue, the Verdict has attracted it’s share of big hitters on the bill over the past year.
Alan Barnes appeared at Stratford Jazz Club (at No.
Bassist and bandleader Jasper Høiby wears a well-earned smile.
What defines the festive in festival is not hard to discern.
At just 22 years of age, Cuban singer Daymé Arocena is proving to be one of Gilles Peterson’s most precocious finds.
Chris Mapp was one of three ‘Fellows’ (the other two were Lauren Kinsella and Yazz Ahmed) supported in 2014/15 by Birmingham promoters Jazzlines, with financial support from the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.
It isn’t unusual at events such as the London Jazz Festival that you come across at least one new and talented artist.
