Rye businesses get behind Jazz Festival

Three top concerts are being staged over the Bank Holiday weekend and all money raised from them will go back into working for the Rye Bay area.

Getting things underway will be Chris Hutchinson whose 30 year career has seen him build a well deserved reputation as a top crooner in the UK and abroad.

His latest CD “Easy Going Me” contains the “top ten” from his live gigs, plus three new songs. ‘Hutch’ will be performing at Rye Community Centre on Saturday 25th August.

Sunday August 26 sees Grammy nominated Stacey Kent perform at Rye College.

Stacey is currently celebrating the release of her third album on Blue Note/EMI, Dreamer In Concert.

Her new live album follows the platinum selling, Grammy nominated Breakfast On The Morning Tram (2007) and Raconte-Moi (2009).

Stacey’s band features Jim Tomlinson (saxophone). Together, their album, The Lyric, was awarded Best Album at the 2006 BBC Jazz Awards and Best Vocal Album in the 2007 Ronnie Scott’s Awards.

Also with Stacey are Graham Harvey (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass) and Matt Skelton (drums).

Double MOBO Award Winning Saxophonist Yolanda Brown performs at Rye College on August 27.

Widely regarded as the emerging “voice” of mainstream Jazz in the UK, she is one of the most in-demand live performers

Her debut album April Showers May Flowers peaked at No1 on the iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts.

She has toured with The Temptations, Errol Brown, Courtney Pine and Diana Krall and collaborated with artists such as Mica Paris, Soweto Kinch and as part of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

Her music touches on Jazz, Soul and Reggae.

Yolanda Brown has played to the President of Russia and she is a Celebrity Ambassador for HRH The Prince of Wales and His Prince’s Trust.

Supporting Yolanda will be Shansel Huseyin who recently featured on BBC’s The Voice.

Her repertoire ranges from covers of Amy Winehouse to Katherine Jenkins.

Tickets are available online at www.ryejazzfestival.com where you can also see listed a number of businesses in Rye that are selling tickets across their counters.