In January 2017 Gerry Higgins and Mick Hamer went for a drink in the Paris House. But for Gerry and Mick this was a drink with a purpose. They were pioneers of Brighton’s afternoon jazz scene. They were looking for a new pub to host afternoon jazz because the previous venue had closed for a lengthy refurbishment. At the suggestion of one the regulars they decided to approach the Paris House, whic
h already had a burgeoning reputation as jazz pub. It was mid-Monday afternoon. The Paris House was empty, apart from the manager. ‘We can fill the pub on a Monday afternoon,’ said Gerry and Mick. ‘Alright,’ said the manager with a barely concealed air of disbelief. ‘I’ll give it a go.’
Nils Solberg, on guitar and vocals, with Mick Hamer on piano and Gerry Higgins on bass, played the opening gig on 23 January 2017.And the Paris House was not just full; it was packed. It was so busy that the solitary barman had to summon reinforcements to help serve the thirsty crowd. In the past three years the gig has taken off in a big way, with some of the best musicians in the country appearing at the Paris House. ‘When I look at my train fares,’ says regular tenor player Al Nicholls, who travels down from London to play the Paris House, ‘this is the least profitable gig I do. But it is also one of the most pleasurable.’
Monday afternoons at the Paris House are so much more than a just another jazz gig. It has become a splendid social event, which is enjoyed immensely both by musicians and the Monday afternoon community of regulars. Like other businesses the Monday afternoon gigs are currently suspended because of lockdown. But, rest assured, normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. Life is too short for Monday afternoons to pass without the Paris House.
