On Thursday evening July 20, The George in Rye hosted the launch of the Rye Jazz & Blues Festival 2017; the popular event included live music with the Paul Richards Latin Trio (pictured right) and wine tasting by Nyetimber Sparkling wines. The event was also hosted by one of the headline sponsors, Brewin Dolphin Wealth Managers.
The 2017 Rye International Jazz and Blues festival will take place from Thursday August 24 – Monday August 28, encompassing the bank holiday weekend.
Now in its sixth year, the festival is a must-attend event for music fans and families and is acknowledged as one of the best boutique music events in the UK.
This year’s programme includes a wide range of music styles and genres providing the very best in jazz, blues, R&B, soul, folk, roots, Latin, Cuban and contemporary music.
Friday August 25 Hue & Cry, bothers Patrick and Gregory Kane will be performing a very special ‘Stripped Back’ concert in the stunning and intimate setting of St Mary’s Church.
To date they have sold in excess of two million records worldwide, and the duo made a huge impact in the late 80s with the albums ‘Seduced and Abandoned’ and ‘Remote’.
This special performance will include an eclectic programme of their classic hits, material from their awaited new album ‘Pocketful of Stones’ and contemporary repertoire performed in their own distinctive style with beautiful arrangements.
Saturday August 26, American singer, pianist and composer Kandace Springs will be performing songs from her new album ‘Soul Eyes’ with her her gifted trio.
There’s an increasingly loud buzz around Kandace, the 27-year-old Nashville-based singer-pianist who combines old-soul jazz sophistication with a tasteful touch of R&B and pop.
Sunday August 27 Eric Bibb, blues power house, headlines the St Mary’s stage, where blues will meet gospel and soul when he sings from a beautifully realised repertoire of soulful, gospel-infused folk and blues; a melding of traditional rootsy American style with a subtle contemporary sensibility.
Monday August 28 The festival presents a very unique and special afternoon concert ‘The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars’ and the ‘Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook’ live at St Mary’s Church.
This fantastic show will take you on a musical journey of amazing music, providing you with an insight into the heritage of the world’s most famous and iconic jazz clubs.
Direct from London’s world-famous jazz club and combining world-class live jazz, narration and rare archive images, The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars take to the stage to celebrate ‘The Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook’.
Later the same day, West Country folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman, graces the stage at St Mary’s to perform an intimate unplugged solo concert.
Seth will be performing songs from the new album and other live favourites from his back catalogue.
Seth’s eighth studio album ‘Ballads of the Broken Few’ is a stunning combination of his dynamic song wri
ting and playing, produced by Ethan Johns with the sublime harmony vocals of emerging young female trio Wildwood Kin.
For further information and to book tickets for the Festival please follow the link : 2017 Festival
Free music takes place at two dedicated outdoor locations within the heart of the ancient Citadel over the main festival August weekend, and to add to the great music and atmosphere, street food and bar facilities are provided.
Other free events also take place at many fringe locations at local wine bars, hotels, pubs, restaurants, and freestyling brass bands also wind their way through the cobbled streets of the town during the weekend.
Rye Jazz & Blues Festival will also team up with Nyetimber to create the perfect summer terrace with English sparkling wine, food and word class live music. Stunning views, wonderful music, award winning wines and a selection of superb food platters, prepared by the Rye Lodge Hotel’s executive chef Attila Csicso, combine to create a relaxed and truly memorable experience.
The terrace will be elegantly styled with tables, chairs and parasols surrounding the outdoor bar, a perfect way to watch the world-class live jazz and Latin music taking place from 1pm to 3pm each day on the terrace.
Discover The Nyetimber Terrace from Saturday 26 to Monday 28 August at the Rye Lodge Hotel.
For more than 25 years Nyetimber has had a single aim: to make the finest English sparkling wine, one to rival the very best in the world, including Champagne. A true pioneer, Nyetimber was the first producer of English sparkling wine to exclusively grow the three celebrated grape varieties: pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay.
Nyetimber is made from 100 per cent estate-grown grapes and is regarded as England’s finest sparkling wine. Owner and Chief Executive Eric Heerema and winemaker Cherie Spriggs are committed to producing wines of exceptional quality.
Find out more about Nyetimber and their celebrated sparkling wines at www.nyetimber.com
A choice of individually prepared food platters are available to complement the award-winning Nyetimber wines at each event.
Seated tickets for these events include a glass of Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, a food platter of your choice (charcuterie or fish) and accompanying jazz. Tickets are priced at £29.50 per person.
Saturday August 26, 1pm to 3pm: Trio Manouche – an intoxicating blend of Gypsy jazz. Trio Manouche are one of the UK’s best-loved gypsy swing ensembles, playing music it’s impossible not to love with infectious energy, virtuosity and joy. Click here for event details and to book tickets.
Sunday August 27, 1pm to 3pm: Iain Rae Jazz Trio – sophisticated modern jazz and timeless classics. The Iain Rae Jazz Trio is one of the region’s top quality ensembles, performing at many festivals and special events across the South East. Click here for event details and to book tickets.
Monday August 28, Paul Richards Latin Trio – sambas, bossas and Latin grooves. With exceptional musicianship, staggering interplay and fresh, unexpected arrangements, this is a group that manages brilliantly to fuse Latin, classical, jazz and samba into a thrilling musical experience. Click here for event details and to book tickets.
Nyetimber wine tasting on the terrace. In addition to the three live lunchtime music events, there will be two wine-tasting events taking place on the terrace from 6pm-7pm on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August.
Each evening will be an exclusive tasting of Nyetimber’s award-winning sparkling wines. A Nyetimber Brand Ambassador will guide you through the range, revealing and exploring what has led Nyetimber wines to stand proudly alongside some of the best sparkling wines in the world. Cost: £18 per person.
Photos: Ian Bowden
Image Credits: Source: Ronnie Scott's .