Next Steps: Bill Martin Septet featuring Gwyn Reynolds
Schedule
Sat Nov 22 2025 at 09:30 am to 11:30 am
UTC+13:00Location
65 Hanover Street, Dunedin Central, 9016 | Dunedin, OT
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Next Steps with the Bill Martin SeptetClub director Bill Martin presents two sets of original music arranged for a seven piece ensemble at Hanover Hall on Saturday 22 November. Performing music recorded on the album “Over to You”, as well as a number of new compositions prepared especially for this show, the band will include tenor saxophonist Gwyn Reynolds from Christchurch, who will be a featured soloist on the night. Drawing on a range of talent from our local scene, pianist Martin is joined by Andy Lynch on bass and Carl Woodward on drums, as well as Ralph Miller (trumpet), Ethan Burton (alto saxophone) and Benji Pickering (trombone) in the horn section.
Bill Martin is no stranger to Dunedin audiences, as he is the director of the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra and has curated a number of sell-out tribute concerts over the past few years as pianist and saxophonist, including homages to Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Tadd Dameron, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones and Charles Mingus. Through his performances with a variety of composers from around New Zealand - including Jake Baxendale, Oscar Laven, Michael Gordon and Michael Costeloe - Martin has refined his compositional craft and learned to arrange his original compositions in a manner that compliments the talent available on the Dunedin Jazz Scene. He has released two albums of original music - “Dark Water” (2017) and “Over to You” (2022) and is busy recording new music for a third release.
Martin’s arrangements for four piece horn section are inspired by the classic Blue note albums on the 1960s recorded by luminaries such as Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard, but also include elements of rock and funk that draw their roots from fusion groups such as Return to Forever, Weather Report and in more recent times, Snarky Puppy. Working with regular collaborators Andy Lynch and Carl Woodward, rhythm parts for these compositions features regular changes in time signature, metric modulation and changes in feel between swung and straight parts. Horn players in the group Ralph Miller, Ethan Burton and Benji Pickering have shown their ability to work with these novel arrangements through prior experience playing in Martin’s ensembles.
Gwyn Reynolds is head of the jazz program in Christchurch and is a leading performer on that scene. As a tenor saxophonist, he is band leader of the supergroup “Tigermoth” in that city and is in hot demand as a sideman and session musician. Reynolds has mentored and developed many fine musicians in Christchurch and brings a vast amount of experience to the stage. He was recorded live on the “Over to You” album and showed versatility and virtuosity in his fine performance on that album.
Hanover Hall is a licensed venue with a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased as www.dunedinjazz.club
Adult: $28.75 (incl. GST) | Cash $30
Senior / Unwaged: $23 (incl. GST) | Cash $25
Student: $17.25 (incl. GST) | Cash $20
The Dunedin Jazz Club is supported by the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Community Trust
Full Details:
Dunedin Jazz Club
Saturday 22 November, Hanover Hall, 7:30pm
Next Steps: the Bill Martin Septet featuring Gwyn Reynolds
Personnel:
Bill Martin (piano)
Gwyn Reynolds (tenor saxophone)
Ralph Miller (Trumpet)
Ethan Burton (alto saxophone)
Benji Pickering (trombone)
Andy Lynch (bass)
Carl Woodward (drums)
Timings: 7pm - doors open; 7:30 - Set One; 8:30 - Set Two; 9:30 - Finish.
Dunedin Jazz Club is proudly supported by the Dunedin City Council and Otago Community Trust.
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Where is it happening?
65 Hanover Street, Dunedin Central, 9016, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, 65 Hanover St, Dunedin Central, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand, DunedinEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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