The Winter Ball

MUSIC ALL AROUND: Musician Chris Reynolds will jazz up the RSA on Saturday for The Winter Ball, a fundraiser to raise money to replace the club roof. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Locals are invited to get grooving to beat the winter blues this weekend as musicians take to the stage at The Forces cafe.

Organised by the Gisborne RSA, the proceeds from the concert will be used to repair the club roof.

“We thought of trying something different and thought music would be a good way to go,” club manager David Sly said.

The Chris Reynolds Big Band will perform more than 35 musical pieces over three hours for The Winter Ball, with special guest Beatrice Papazoglou.

Founded by Reynolds in 2019, the band will jazz up the place with saxophones, trumpets, trombones and a four-piece rhythm section consisting of piano, bass, drums and vocalists.

The musician was seven when he first laid his hands on a piano.

“I grew up with music around me all the time,” Reynolds said.

After finishing school, he auditioned to be a band member in the Royal New Zealand Navy and got in.

Five years later, he auditioned to be a trombone player for a top live circus band and spent the next eight years in the music world.

When he came back to Gisborne, Reynolds took a break from music and did an adult apprenticeship in mechanical engineering.

“ Over time I started to sense that there was a need for good music tuition and repair services. So I took a leap of faith, left my job as an engineer and opened up Chris Reynolds Music Services in 2014.”

A few years on, he set up Big Band to bring the jazz scene to life in Gisborne.

Get out your glad rags and enjoy a three-course meal, complimentary bubbles and live music from The Chris Reynolds Big Band at The Winter Ball. Gisborne RSA, corner Bright Street and Childers Road, Saturday, 6pm to 11pm. Tickets $100 from the RSA or Forces Cafe.