The 13th annual Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival and some perfect weather, brought in the crowds over the bank holiday weekend August 22-25. With headline concerts in St Mary’s church, gigs in venues all over town and free music performances at the Buttermarket by Rye Town hall, it was a busy weekend.
Nubiyan Twist kicked off the festival in style on Friday evening in St Mary’s. A nine-piece big band, favourites of BBC 6 music and festival stages across the country, they succeeded in getting the audience dancing in front of the stage and in the aisles early on, with their inventive and lively blend of African, hip-hop, garage, Latin, soul, jazz and dub influences.
The concert was one of many filmed by Rye News photographers KT and Martin Bruce.
On Saturday, after a wedding at the town hall, the Buttermarket stage opened. With seating in the road outside, there was jazz music from Marcus Bunton Trio before more concerts in St Mary’s featuring Toby Lee and Courtney Pine.
The hot weather on Sunday made for a perfect afternoon of music in Rye with venues open for locals and visitors to enjoy performances inside and outside the town’s pubs and wine bars.
The collective of jazz and brass musicians, Fat Brass, began their set at the Buttermarket before walking around the town playing their inventive versions of 90s pop and garage tracks prompting discussion in the following crowd trying to identify the hits which included Destiny’s Child (Survivor), Fat Boy Slim (Praise You), TLC (No Scrubs), and Sweet Female Attitude (I’ll Bring you Flowers in the Pouring Rain). Town crier, Paul Goring led the procession with jaunty steps, beaming from ear to ear, reflecting the joy the walkers experienced as they walked the High Street, the Mint, Mermaid Street and up past Lamb House and to the church.
The Dom Pipkin Trio followed with their infectious and high energy New Orleans groove. Always smiling and on the move at the piano, Dom Pipkin is fun and exciting to watch and when Fat Brass joined him in for an improv version of Abba’s Gimme, Gimme a Man after Midnight, the crowd were smiling too.
During the evening it was the turn of Ruby Turner at St Mary’s.
The final day of the festival brought more good weather and crowds to the Buttermarket. The saxophonist James Morton and his trio bought infectious energy and fizzing grooves to the assembled audience. The positive vibe was continued with the ever-popular The Violet Jive getting the crowd moving with their blend of swing, rock and roll, Latin and film soundtrack tunes.
The festival finished in rousing style with the James Taylor Quartet in St Mary’s Church on Monday evening. With James at the keyboard of the Hammond organ and a full band featuring horns, guitars, xylophone with vocalist Yvonne Yanney, the lively set mixed mellow soul with uplifting acid jazz. It literally rocked St Mary’s and the audience loved it.
Looking back on the weekend Rye Jazz Festival organiser Ian Bowden told the audience in the church he was delighted to see the crowds in the town centre. “I’m so grateful to everyone who made the festival happen, especially the volunteers, venue owners and musicians. The weather was great, the music was amazing, and Rye was full of happy, smiley people. It’s a real privilege to put on the show in this amazing town.”
Around £3000 was raised for Music Well, the festival’s charity partner.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Mary & Mick Design .