Geoff Simkins, Imogen Ryall, Terry Seabrook & Alex Eberhard The Snowdrop, Lewes 14/10/13 This unusual combination of musicians (alto sax, voice, organ and drums) performed a collection of well arranged standards with Imogen Ryall also doubling as a second front-line instrument with her scat singing mimicking a trumpet. Saxophonist Geoff Simkins performed a beautiful trio […]
Mark Edwards’ Charity Jazz Roar Up with Cloggz & The Bobby Wellins Quartet The Brunswick, Hove 18/10/13 I’d heard lots of great things about Mark Edwards’ previous Charity Roar Ups, but this was the first time I’d actually been to one. Having seen Cloggz before at The Verdict back in March this year, I knew […]
Jack Kendon Sextet The Verdict, 19/10/13 Saxophonist Will Gardner, playing on the first couple of numbers, left early to go to another gig, leaving it to trombonist Tarik Mecci and trumpeter Jack Kendon to play the lead parts of some classic hard bop arrangements. The musicians in the audience might have noticed the occasional tuning […]
Nigel Price/Terry Seabrook/Nigel Thomas The Ancient Mariner, Hove 24/10/13 Guitarist Nigel Price, a former Brighton resident, has been wowing audiences at Ronnie Scotts and recently returned to perform at The Verdict whilst on tour with Gary Smulyan. And, of course, ‘the other Nigel’, bassist Nigel Thomas, has been doing this gig with previous guests that […]
Preston/Glasgow/Lowe/Lockrane The Verdict, Brighton 25/10/13 The contemporary jazz trio of guitarist David Preston, six-string bassist Kevin Glasgow, and drummer Laurie Lowe embarked on their UK tour with a sensational gig at The Verdict with guest virtuoso flautist Gareth Lockrane. The trio could easily garner comparison with the likes of The Neil Cowley Trio and […]
Julian Argüelles Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 5th October, 2013 Julian Argüelles began with an explanation that the first set would be older original compositions and the second set would be a brand new suite of compositions, as yet untitled. The first tune, Phaedrus, from the album of the same name, was […]
How do you write a review about a fellow contributor to SJM? What if you don’t like it and then have to piss on his parade with a bad review? To start off with, the line up is amazing. Top class musicians. And both the gig and the CD feature original compositions from […]
Dick Pearce started the evening off with a set of British bop, beginning with Stella by Starlight played on flugelhorn. The original composition Airships In A Cloud was a Coltrane-style waltz which suited the powerful drumming style of Mark Fletcher. The standard It’s You Or No One was a fantastic vehicle for some really cooking […]
Andy Williams/Terry Pack Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 7th September The audience at The Verdict were expecting an evening of good humoured banter and some excellent, relaxing jazz. Beginning with a pensive and dreamy version of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, the group quickly established a unique sound, creating a soundscape awash with colours […]