Bill Martin Septet featuring Gwyn Reynolds (Chch)

The October edition of the Dunedin Jazz Club features club director and pianist Bill Martin performing two sets of his original compositions with an all star, seven-piece band. Performing alongside a host of stellar local horn players will be Gwyn Reynolds, an accomplished tenor saxophonist from Christchurch. Rhythm players for the final DJC concert of the year will be “Bill Martin Trio” regulars Carl Woodward on drums and Andy Lynch on bass.

Gwyn Reynolds is an active contributor to the Christchurch music community and can be found in a wide variety of interesting musical situations ranging from cool jazz in small clubs, greasy funk with his mates, or deep in the pit of the Isaac Theatre Royal playing musicals. He is Program leader of the Music Arts program at Te Ara has recorded extensively in a wide variety of genres. Gwyn is excited about making his debut at the DJC and forging further links between the Dunedin and Christchurch Scenes.

Leading the horn section for this gig will be trumpeter Ralph Miller, who is principal trumpet for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and an accomplished jazz musician who masterfully performed Miles Davis’ part in the recent “Birth of the Cool” concert. Alongside him will be Nick Cornish, a “legend” of the local jazz scene, who plays alto saxophone and is also Principal Oboe for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra. Young gun Finn McKinlay also returns to the DJC for this gig on trombone, an appearance which rounds off a busy year after performing with the Michael Gordon Septet and the DYJO on numerous occasions.

The Dunedin Jazz Club is a licensed venue that creates the atmosphere of a jazz club in a concert setting. Tickets will be limited to 100 in accordance with the guidelines for entertainment venues under the alert level 2 setting. If there is a change of alert levels prior to the date of the concert, an additional 60 tickets will be made available. Patrons should wear face coverings in accordance with healthy and safety guidelines, but will be able to remove their masks during the concert should they purchase drinks from the bar.

Personel
Ralph Miller (trumpet)
Nick Cornish (alto)
Gwyn Reynolds (tenor)
Finn McKinlay (trombone)
Bill Martin (piano)
Andy Lynch (bass)
Carl Woodward (drums)

7:15 Doors Open
7:45 Bill Martin Septet Set 1
8:45 Interval
9:00 Bill Martin Septet Set 2
10:00 Finish

Biographical Notes:
Bill Martin is a Dunedin-based jazz pianist, saxophonist and composer. He is the leader of a piano trio, saxophone quartet and composes for larger ensembles including Big Bands. He has performed at jazz festivals across New Zealand, including the Wellington Jazz Festival and National Jazz Festival, with leading players such as Geoff Culverwell, Edwina Thorne, Roger Manins, Reuben Bradley, Nick Cornish and Paul Dyne. Bill is the director of the newly formed Dunedin Jazz Club and the musical director of the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra, which is currently the house band of the DJC. He has recorded an album of original compositions titled "Dark Water" in piano trio format, as well as a series of 35 solo piano recordings completing the 2020 Lockdown period which can be accessed via youtube. He writes original music for small combos and big bands and has recently arranged nine of his compositions for a seven-piece band including trumpet, alto, tenor and trombone.