Basil Hodge Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Friday 9th May, 2014 This was Basil Hodge’s second gig at The Verdict with long-time collaborator Tony Kofi and it will surely be one of many in the future. Basil Hodge’s tribute to one of his favourite pianists, entitled Mode for McCoy, showed both the powerful […]
Straight No Chaser Big Band The Brunswick, Hove Sunday 8th December, 2013 When Louis Armstrong returned to his hometown of New Orleans after becoming a star, he was nervous that people wouldn’t want to see him as he hadn’t been back there for many years. But when he arrived at the train station, […]
Claire Martin with The Montpellier Cello Quartet, supported by Cloggz The Old Market, Hove Thursday 19th December 2013 Raising money for Brighton Women’s Centre, this special evening began with support act Cloggz, directed by pianist Mark Edwards. Performing some hauntingly beautiful cinematic music, such as the themes from The Mission and […]
The Sussex Jazz Orchestra The Brunswick, Hove 24/11/13 The ubiquitous Mark Bassey has been leading the Sussex Jazz Orchestra since September and his good humoured approach and keen ear have resulted in a great sounding ensemble that embraces the musical history of the ensemble. Mark’s solo trombone playing was featured in two […]
Gareth Williams/Piers Clark/Dave Green/Steve Brown Smalls, Caxton Arms, Brighton Thursday 28th November, 2013 They started the first set with the old classic Rosetta (one which isn’t heard enough these days) and then started the second set with another classic, Avalon, played at a fast swinging tempo. In between were other classics such as Oscar […]
Damon Brown International Quintet The Verdict, Brighton Friday 29th November, 2013 This was an evening of some great modern hard bop playing which kindled memories of the Donald Byrd/Jackie McClean partnership of the late Fifties. And if anyone can imitate the sound of Fifties Jackie McClean it’s certainly French saxophonist Pierrick Pedron. […]
Kit Downes Trio/Pablo Held Trio The Verdict, Brighton Wednesday 4th December, 2013 Everyone likes a bargain, especially during the festive period, and a bargain was certainly to be had at The Verdict, last Wednesday. This was a ‘buy one get one free’ special, with not just one, but two wonderful trios on […]
Sam Miles Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 30th November, 2013 Young saxophonist Sam Miles grew up in Sussex listening to classic jazz and this permeates the sound that he gets from the tenor saxophone. Having studied at the Royal Academy of Music his playing continues to develop and grow. His soprano saxophone tone […]
Terry Pack Quintet – ‘Jazzin’ It At The House That Zac Built’ Fundraiser The Brunswick, Hove Wednesday 4th December, 2013 Playing standards such as Softly As In A Morning Sunrise in the style of Coltrane, this group of local musicians impressed a small but delighted audience with classics from the Herbie Hancock repertoire, […]
Don Weller Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Friday 6th December, 2013 On the evening when jazz fans learnt of the sad news of Stan Tracey’s passing it was fitting for Don Weller to start the set with a Stan Tracey blues. This evening was classic Don Weller, in a jazz club playing standards, […]