December 30, was a wonderful nearly-last evening of 2016 at the Grapevine Champagne and Jazz Bar in Conduit Street.
Dom Pipkin (describing his music as “piano from London, soul from New Orleans”) performed on the piano. His voice was bluesy and the playing brilliant and he seemed to enjoy playing as much as the audience loves listening. He had also performed at the Rye Jazz Festival 2016.
Dom introduced a friend, blues singer Katie Bradley. Both are definitely worth checking out.
I can’t wait to listen to his CD, Dom and the Ikos, Live and Loose at the Hippodrome, which he was selling. Dom has been booked for January, February and March on the last Friday of each month unless he gets a gig he can’t refuse.
The place was packed and at one point people felt compelled to dance, including Rita Kirk, pictured left, partner of former RDC councillor for Rye, Sam Souster. Everyone found it great fun.
The Grapevine is becoming a hot spot for music lovers. The prices of wine vary as they do for champagne so it’s good to check out the choices. Food is also available between 6pm and 9:30pm. The menu is from Cafe Zara in the High Street and has a variety of reasonably priced delights, described as “classical Turkish-Anatolian cuisine with influences of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines”.
If you want to find out who appears next at the Grapevine visit their website.
Photos: Heidi Foster