Curtis Stigers

The festival proudly presents a unique and intimate special concert with Curtis Stigers at St Mary’s church Rye on Thursday 12th December as part of the festival’s Christmas concert series. Tickets will be in high demand for what will be a sensational evening concert with one of the most distinctive voices in music.

Singer, songwriter, saxophonist, Curtis Stigers blazes a path as one of his generations finest and most original interpreters of modern songs. Throughout his career he has been celebrated for a surprisingly wide variety of impressive accomplishments from his early pop chart success with global hits including ‘I Wonder Why’ & ‘You’re All That Matter To Me’ to also amassing countless awards including being named as BBC Radio 2 ‘Jazz Artist of the Year’.

Given his string of hit singles, millions of records sold and a 23-year recording career that has touched every continent and nearly every genre, one might expect Curtis Stigers to be either very rich or very tired but this energetic singer/songwriter/saxophonist continues to storm concert halls, festivals and clubs everywhere from Moscow to Manhattan, accompanied one night by his quartet, another by big band or orchestra.

He has released new work nearly every year since he started recording, frequently collaborating with his musical heroes. Along the way, this musician who began his career playing standards in a Boise hotel lobby while moonlighting as drummer in a punk rock band has redefined the constitution of contemporary jazz.

But Stigers seems to be the rare artist who has not allowed his success to influence his artistry, or his sense of self. Born in Hollywood, raised in Boise, and transplanted to Manhattan, he now resides, between gigs, in his hometown back in Idaho, a place where he says he can raise his daughter and “live a real life.” Here, between blue mountains and green fields, Stigers is able to write and discover the songs he wants to sing.

‘A Rockin Jazzman’ New York Times

‘An artist of genuine class and laconic charm’ The Guardian