As the 100th anniversary of the Rye Wurlitzer approaches next month, Bel from the Rye News Press Club reports on a concert in the theatre at Rye College – a key event in the Wurlitzer Academy calendar featuring the supreme Liane Caroll and a fish and chips supper evening.
Liane is a local artist, hailing from London and Hastings, where she currently lives; she recently took part in Hastings Fat Tuesday and, when not performing, spends her time teaching at jazz summer schools and running workshops. As a highly respected session musician, Liane has worked with countless bands and big-name artists over her career, including Paul McCartney and Gerry Rafferty, but for show night Liane was joined by husband Roger Carey on bass, Dean Morris on drums and of course our very own internationally acclaimed Michael Wooldridge on the Rye Wurlitzer organ. And she certainly didn’t disappoint! She drew a massive crowd (for Rye) and even international fans, most notably a gentleman who travelled all the way from Holland on his motorbike to be there.
The set list was a mixture of frank, beautiful jazz ballads and funny, upbeat songs that had everyone bobbing along, my personal favourite being the “Mick Jagger” song. Caroll’s voice caries intense emotion when she sings but, between sets, she’s incredibly funny and her crowd work and commentary pulled the performance together, as did Richard Moore and the raffle where, in true jazz spirit, winners were encouraged to call out boobadoobedoo!
The fish and chips were served throughout the interval and second act by Dean the chippy, so audience members could eat and enjoy the music. Food was met with glowing five-star reviews from the crowd and, although most of the crowd were regulars, they still commented on how much they enjoyed the Wurlitzer shows. “Everyone’s always so lovely, and I just walk away smiling,” one lady told me on the way out, and I confess I always look forward to an evening at the Wurlitzer.
If you get the opportunity, I really would attend one of the shows: they’re always first class, and always feel good.
Or, if you want to show support, please make a donation to the Wurlitzer charity! The Wurlitzer Academy relies solely upon donations, sponsorships and staging of fund-raising events to continue its work, preserving the skills needed to play Rye’s magnificent Wurlitzer organ.
The Press Club is a joint project between Rye News and Rye College which sees students reporting on life at school and beyond.
Image Credits: Helena Dornellas https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liane_Carroll.jpg CC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.