World-renowned rock keyboard player and infamous Grumpy Old Man, Rick Wakeman, fresh from his world tour, gave a stunning and intimate concert on acoustic piano in the wonderful setting of St Mary’s Church in Rye.
Rick gave a very entertaining performance mixing music with his many tales of his extensive world tours and recording sessions from the 1960s to today.
He entertained a full house on Thursday, December 8, with amusing tales concerning recording Morning has Broken with the then singer Cat Stevens, adventures with his local constabulary and a hot curry, funny stories about his mother and her elderly friends, and of fellow band member Jon Anderson – from his period with the supergroup Yes – and his paintings in Wales.
Rick also paid moving and heartfelt tribute to his late friend David Bowie with Life on Mars. Rick played on Bowie’s Hunky Dory and Space Oddity albums and recalled working with Bowie and his battered old guitar.
Other music included excerpts from his 1970s album The Six Wives of Henry VIII (Rick recalling his several marriages…) and a wonderful story of his good friend Sir Norman Wisdom and his work with the Children of Chernobyl charity. Rick played a special piece of music he wrote especially for a TV programme on Chernobyl commissioned by Grenada TV and presented by Wisdom, which to this day remains banned.
It was wonderful to see the church so full, the lighting setting the scene so well, and the sound crystal clear, a most memorable occasion.
The concert also helped raise awareness of the Hastings-based charity Charity For Kids; the collection raised more than £230.
The event was part of a series of Christmas concerts arranged by Ian Bowden, Director of the Rye Jazz Festival at St Mary’s Church, which were headlined by local band Keane’s lead singer Tom Chaplin and which included the London Community Gospel Choir and special guest, Britain’s Queen of Soul, Mica Paris, as well as acclaimed UK jazz singers Ian Shaw and Claire Martin.
For more information on future events please follow the link : Rye Jazz Festival
Photos: Neale East