19-Piece Compaq w/ Special Guest Vocalist Anaïs Reno at 'Boston's Big Band Christmas' at City Winery
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The Boston Pops’ Christmas concerts and ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet are timeless New England seasonal classics, but seven years ago the 19-piece Compaq Big Band started a wonderful new seasonal tradition with ‘Boston’s Big Band Christmas’ at the fabulous City Winery – and we SOLD OUT well in advance! On Sunday December 20th we're returning with a very Special Guest Vocalist, international jazz sensation Anaïs Reno from New York City, for our third show together at CW. Off four SOLD OUT debut performances in Buenos Aires, Argentina AND in every one of five cities in Europe on her inaugural tour there, she’ll be singing many great arrangements as performed by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald.
As always, this will be an amazing performance filled with seasonal favorites like you’ve NEVER heard them before - exciting, inspirational, and just plain fun. Even the biggest Grinch can’t help but get in the Christmas spirit!
The show runs 5:30pm-7:00pm - Doors Open 4:00pm.
Reserved Seating only, with tickets $30 - $54 per person, depending on section selected (see seating chart). We’ve had City Winery Boston holiday shows *SELL OUT* well in advance, so we *STRONGLY* recommend early on-line ticket purchase here https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/compaq-big-band-u3y18r
Walk-Ins welcomed as space permits. No minimum food/drink purchase during the show.
IMPORTANT: *** DUE TO SCAMMERS THAT MAY CREATE VERY AUTHENTIC-LOOKING WEB SITES, AND/OR COMMENT TO THIS FACEBOOK POST OFFERING TICKETS VIA PERSONAL SALE, BUY TICKETS DIRECTLY FROM THE VENUE AT THE ABOVE LINK ONLY! WE’LL TAKE DOWN FRAUDSTERS’ COMMENTS, AND BLOCK & REPORT THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ***
Tickets to these shows are always THE unique Christmas ‘experience’ on everyone’s list, but for more perfect stocking stuffer ideas we'll have Anaïs' CDs available for purchase.
If you don’t know CW, you should - check out www.citywinery.com/boston. Terrific sight lines, phenomenal sound system, chill atmosphere, and a great selection of sustenance & libation - all brought to you by the hippest, nicest staff and management in Boston.
City Winery is located at 80 Beverly Street in the heart of Downtown Boston, close to familiar landmarks such as the Haymarket, the North End, TD Garden, and Faneuil Hall Market. And, there are both Orange and Green Line ‘T’ station entrances just steps away. Parking is available just one block away at the Haymarket Garage for $16 – see https://www.pilgrimparking.com/boston-parking-garages/haymarket-garage.
The band always features the power of 14 horns plus a cookin’ rhythm section, and showcases top jazz vocalists from the Greater Boston and New York City areas. The styles you’ll hear on December 20th run the gamut from terrific swing and jazz treatments of holiday classics to very UNtraditional variations of jazz rock, ballad, samba, and jazz waltz – all high-energy arrangements from greats such as Gordon Goodwin, Count Basie, Tom Kubis, Sammy Nestico, Dave Metzger, and Bob Curnow.
Anaïs Reno’s love affair with the Great American Songbook began at age ten, and her rise to prominence in the hugely competitive jazz scene that is NYC with shows at Birdland Jazz Club in Times Square beginning when she was thirteen. During her years at famed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, and then while earning her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Jazz Performance from Purchase College (SUNY Purchase) in New York in May 2025 (as an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar), her career skyrocketed both nationally, as well as abroad.
She has performed at storied venues such as Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Django, and Feinstein's 54 Below, plus Seneca One Auditorium in Buffalo, NY for International Jazz Day, as well as singing her own compositions with the New York Philharmonic in David Geffen Hall (Lincoln Center). Anaïs has also sung at Madison Square Garden, and at the Caramoor Jazz Festival. She delivered a stunning rendition of “America The Beautiful” on national television at Citi Field for the New York Mets/Yankees game on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
In addition to Birdland, Anaïs performs regularly at many other iconic jazz addresses – many times selling out - such as Dizzy’s Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC), One Flight Up in New York City, Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, PA, the Blue Strawberry in St. Louis, MO, the Valhalla Boat House Theatre in Lake Tahoe, CA, and both PizzaExpress and Ronnie Scott’s (MULTIPLE sold out shows there) in London. She’s also made two consecutive appearances at the annual Edinburgh Jazz Festival. On her schedule for later 2026 and 2027 are gigs in Cambridge (UK), Muri (Switzerland), Paris, Prague, Gdansk (Poland), and Cologne (Germany).
To get a tiny sample of what you’re in for on August 23rd, take a listen to an unedited iPhone collage of Anaiis live in front of the Compaq Big Band on September 21, 2024 at the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, New Hampshire https://www.compaqbigband.com/video/cbb_20240921_AndresInstituteOfArt.mp4. Her first album, “Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn”, debuted in 2021, and is a 12-song compilation of 100% Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn collaborations that rose quickly to #6 on the jazz charts. Her second album - “Anaïs Reno at PizzaExpress Live - in London“ - was recorded in Summer 2023 at the club’s trendy Soho flagship location. Her latest studio endeavor, “Lady Of The Lavender Mist”, was released in May 2025 under Club44 Records, featuring legendary guitarist Peter Bernstein, David Wong, and Joe Farnsworth.
The Compaq Big Band is one of the longest continuously operating large-format jazz ensembles in New England. Formed in 1975, the group has entertained hundreds of clients across the region and beyond, impressing enthusiastic crowds large and small at swing dances, gala celebrations, nonprofit fundraisers, music festivals, summer concerts series, historic performing arts centers, corporate & private parties, and legendary Greater Boston area jazz venues. Their passion is combining tight ensemble musicianship, top vocalists, an extensive library of hip-but-approachable swing and jazz, and technical show production quality that impresses seasoned big band aficionados while inspiring newcomers to the genre to become avid fans.
Check out www.compaqbigband.com and www.anaisreno.com.
FB: Compaq Big Band | Anaïs Reno | City Winery Boston
IG compaqbigband | anaisreno | citywinerybos
Celebratin' the season will be regulars John Finocchiaro, Chris Hildebrand, Kurt Thaller, Scott Taylor, Russell Bogartz, Suzie Goodwin, Bruce D. McLeod, Joe Heffernan, Thomas Borning, Peter Sokolowski, Bruce Hanahan, Gil Bristol, Dave King, Dennis Dennis Cecere, and Jeff Hagan, plus super-sub Ed Mudrak.
#compaqbigband #anaisreno #bigband #mabigband #newenglandbigband #jazz #jazzband #swingband #nightlife #music #livemusic #concert #LiveMusicEvents #LiveShow #christmasmusic #holidayseason #holidaymusic #holidayfun #citywineryboston #boston #bostonmusic #bostonchristmas #maChristmass #Bostoncalendar #bostonmusicscene
As always, this will be an amazing performance filled with seasonal favorites like you’ve NEVER heard them before - exciting, inspirational, and just plain fun. Even the biggest Grinch can’t help but get in the Christmas spirit!
The show runs 5:30pm-7:00pm - Doors Open 4:00pm.
Reserved Seating only, with tickets $30 - $54 per person, depending on section selected (see seating chart). We’ve had City Winery Boston holiday shows *SELL OUT* well in advance, so we *STRONGLY* recommend early on-line ticket purchase here https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/compaq-big-band-u3y18r
Walk-Ins welcomed as space permits. No minimum food/drink purchase during the show.
IMPORTANT: *** DUE TO SCAMMERS THAT MAY CREATE VERY AUTHENTIC-LOOKING WEB SITES, AND/OR COMMENT TO THIS FACEBOOK POST OFFERING TICKETS VIA PERSONAL SALE, BUY TICKETS DIRECTLY FROM THE VENUE AT THE ABOVE LINK ONLY! WE’LL TAKE DOWN FRAUDSTERS’ COMMENTS, AND BLOCK & REPORT THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ***
Tickets to these shows are always THE unique Christmas ‘experience’ on everyone’s list, but for more perfect stocking stuffer ideas we'll have Anaïs' CDs available for purchase.
If you don’t know CW, you should - check out www.citywinery.com/boston. Terrific sight lines, phenomenal sound system, chill atmosphere, and a great selection of sustenance & libation - all brought to you by the hippest, nicest staff and management in Boston.
City Winery is located at 80 Beverly Street in the heart of Downtown Boston, close to familiar landmarks such as the Haymarket, the North End, TD Garden, and Faneuil Hall Market. And, there are both Orange and Green Line ‘T’ station entrances just steps away. Parking is available just one block away at the Haymarket Garage for $16 – see https://www.pilgrimparking.com/boston-parking-garages/haymarket-garage.
The band always features the power of 14 horns plus a cookin’ rhythm section, and showcases top jazz vocalists from the Greater Boston and New York City areas. The styles you’ll hear on December 20th run the gamut from terrific swing and jazz treatments of holiday classics to very UNtraditional variations of jazz rock, ballad, samba, and jazz waltz – all high-energy arrangements from greats such as Gordon Goodwin, Count Basie, Tom Kubis, Sammy Nestico, Dave Metzger, and Bob Curnow.
Anaïs Reno’s love affair with the Great American Songbook began at age ten, and her rise to prominence in the hugely competitive jazz scene that is NYC with shows at Birdland Jazz Club in Times Square beginning when she was thirteen. During her years at famed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, and then while earning her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Jazz Performance from Purchase College (SUNY Purchase) in New York in May 2025 (as an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar), her career skyrocketed both nationally, as well as abroad.
She has performed at storied venues such as Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Django, and Feinstein's 54 Below, plus Seneca One Auditorium in Buffalo, NY for International Jazz Day, as well as singing her own compositions with the New York Philharmonic in David Geffen Hall (Lincoln Center). Anaïs has also sung at Madison Square Garden, and at the Caramoor Jazz Festival. She delivered a stunning rendition of “America The Beautiful” on national television at Citi Field for the New York Mets/Yankees game on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
In addition to Birdland, Anaïs performs regularly at many other iconic jazz addresses – many times selling out - such as Dizzy’s Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC), One Flight Up in New York City, Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, PA, the Blue Strawberry in St. Louis, MO, the Valhalla Boat House Theatre in Lake Tahoe, CA, and both PizzaExpress and Ronnie Scott’s (MULTIPLE sold out shows there) in London. She’s also made two consecutive appearances at the annual Edinburgh Jazz Festival. On her schedule for later 2026 and 2027 are gigs in Cambridge (UK), Muri (Switzerland), Paris, Prague, Gdansk (Poland), and Cologne (Germany).
To get a tiny sample of what you’re in for on August 23rd, take a listen to an unedited iPhone collage of Anaiis live in front of the Compaq Big Band on September 21, 2024 at the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, New Hampshire https://www.compaqbigband.com/video/cbb_20240921_AndresInstituteOfArt.mp4. Her first album, “Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn”, debuted in 2021, and is a 12-song compilation of 100% Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn collaborations that rose quickly to #6 on the jazz charts. Her second album - “Anaïs Reno at PizzaExpress Live - in London“ - was recorded in Summer 2023 at the club’s trendy Soho flagship location. Her latest studio endeavor, “Lady Of The Lavender Mist”, was released in May 2025 under Club44 Records, featuring legendary guitarist Peter Bernstein, David Wong, and Joe Farnsworth.
The Compaq Big Band is one of the longest continuously operating large-format jazz ensembles in New England. Formed in 1975, the group has entertained hundreds of clients across the region and beyond, impressing enthusiastic crowds large and small at swing dances, gala celebrations, nonprofit fundraisers, music festivals, summer concerts series, historic performing arts centers, corporate & private parties, and legendary Greater Boston area jazz venues. Their passion is combining tight ensemble musicianship, top vocalists, an extensive library of hip-but-approachable swing and jazz, and technical show production quality that impresses seasoned big band aficionados while inspiring newcomers to the genre to become avid fans.
Check out www.compaqbigband.com and www.anaisreno.com.
FB: Compaq Big Band | Anaïs Reno | City Winery Boston
IG compaqbigband | anaisreno | citywinerybos
Celebratin' the season will be regulars John Finocchiaro, Chris Hildebrand, Kurt Thaller, Scott Taylor, Russell Bogartz, Suzie Goodwin, Bruce D. McLeod, Joe Heffernan, Thomas Borning, Peter Sokolowski, Bruce Hanahan, Gil Bristol, Dave King, Dennis Dennis Cecere, and Jeff Hagan, plus super-sub Ed Mudrak.
#compaqbigband #anaisreno #bigband #mabigband #newenglandbigband #jazz #jazzband #swingband #nightlife #music #livemusic #concert #LiveMusicEvents #LiveShow #christmasmusic #holidayseason #holidaymusic #holidayfun #citywineryboston #boston #bostonmusic #bostonchristmas #maChristmass #Bostoncalendar #bostonmusicscene
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City Winery Boston, Boston, United States
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