19-Piece Compaq Big Band w/ Anaïs Reno

WOW! An incredible evening awaits jazz fans when the 19-piece Compaq Big Band with stunning Special Guest Vocalist Anaïs Reno from New York City debuts at the awesome Byfield Community Arts Center (BCAC) in Byfield, Massachusetts on Friday October 11th!

Where’s Byfield, MA you ask? It’s the North Shore’s ‘secret treasure’, right next to picturesque Newbury and Newburyport – only 10 minutes from the beautiful & bustling Newburyport downtown and waterfront. Plan on getting up to the Newburyport area early and having dinner at one of the top spots recommended below. What a great way to kick off a little ‘mini-escape’ for your Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day long weekend!

BCAC is a former town hall renovated into a *VERY* cool, ultra-hip, chic performing arts space for the Byfield community and beyond. Great sight lines, terrific sound system & acoustics, video projectors, wonderful stage lighting, and a full service bar (cash & cards accepted). www.byfieldcac.org.

The show runs 8:00pm-10:00pm. Doors Open 7:00pm. Ticket prices (exclusive of fees) are as follows: General Admission $20pp | Reserved Bar Top Stool $30pp | Reserved High-Top for 2 people $60 | Reserved Cocktail Table for 2 people $60 | Reserved Cocktail Table for 4 people $120. We expect this show to sell out, so advance ticket purchase online is strongly encouraged. Walk-ins welcome as space permits (cash & cards accepted).

MORE INFORMATION:

Protect yourself against online ticket scams. Scammers may create authentic-looking ticket sales web sites, or make Facebook comments offering tickets via personal sale/resale. To avoid ticket scams, we recommend using only the direct ticket link we have provided above to the venue. We’ll make every effort to take down, block, and report ticket fraudsters’ Facebook comments as quickly as possible.

Have a quick listen to our encore recorded live on July 24, 2024 at Jaffrey’s Park Theatre in response to a standing ovation at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/948624i2o12xbpnjx8uei/AHrXLhKntc44PqqmIrrddhc?rlkey=kdjgmnoayyx43mrsudphjppvm&st=qz4rql3z&dl=0.

Since Anaïs’ public Boston debut with us just five short months ago at City Winery, this rising New York City jazz star has been busy performing in her hometown, and in Boston, St. Louis, Philadelphia (where one of her frequent jazz club venues named an ice cream after her…), San Francisco, London, Edinburgh, Lake Tahoe, New Hampshire, and more.

On October 11th she’ll be singing arrangements from the Great American Songbook as performed by Ella Fitzgerald with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, as well as other jazz classics as sung by Ella, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day, Helen O’Connell, and more. A few very hip, more modern takes on timeless vocals will be sprinkled in, such as John Clayton’s powerful version of “Fever”. And, we’ll round out the evening with a few tasty instrumental arrangements from the likes of Chris Walden, Sammy Nestico, and Gordon Goodwin.

Both of Anaïs’ CDs will be available for purchase, along with vinyl of her second album. All merchandise will be on sale before the concert, during intermission, and after the show (cash & cards accepted).

Anaïs began singing the Great American Songbook at the age of eight, and has been performing at legendary Birdland Jazz Club in Times Square since she was thirteen. A graduate of the acclaimed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in NYC, she is an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar who just completed her junior year at Purchase College (SUNY Purchase) in New York, majoring in vocal jazz performance.

Among her many accolades, she won the Ben Tucker Jazz Award at the 2023 American Traditions Competition, took First Place at the 2020 Mabel Mercer Foundation competition, received the 2020 Julie Wilson Award, was awarded Second Place at the 2018 Michael Feinstein’s Great American Song Book Academy competition, and earned the 2016 Forte International Competition’s Platinum Award.

She has performed for sold out shows at storied NYC venues such as Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Django, Dizzy’s, 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 NY 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.

Anaïs appears regularly at iconic music venues such as Birdland, Chris’ Jazz Club in Philadelphia, and at PizzaExpress in London. 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 last year at the iconic club’s trendy Soho flagship location. To get a couple more samples of what you’re in for on September 21st, take a listen to a couple small-group jazz tracks from Anaïs’ first album that – we’ll be doing full big band arrangements of these on May 19th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bxGPJ3mncM&list=OLAK5uy_kHm45Cra7FSia4UlomWi_YrbNBo2P6cMw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTf7uQMLB4Q&list=OLAK5uy_kHm45Cra7FSia4UlomWi_YrbNBo2P6cMw&index=4.

The Compaq Big Band is one of the longest continuously operating large-format jazz ensembles in New England. Formed in 1975, the group has performed for hundreds of clients across the region and beyond, impressing crowds at swing dances, gala celebrations, nonprofit fundraisers, music festivals, summer concerts, and legendary Boston area music venues. It features the power of 14 horns, a cookin’ rhythm section, accomplished instrumental soloists, a rotation of outstanding regional vocalists, one of the most exciting ‘books’ in New England, and an unrivaled passion for technical production. Among the band’s many accomplishments are a 10-day/7-gig tour of the United Kingdom, producing and warming up for sold out shows of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and several concerts featuring international high jazz trumpet virtuoso Wayne Bergeron. Their two commercial CDs – “Bandwidth” and “Hard Drive” – have been played on New England Jazz National Public Radio, BBC2 in the United Kingdom, and Swedish public radio jazz programs.

For dinner choices right near the venue, check out The Rusty Can www.rustycanbifield.com and Wyatt’s Market www.wyattsmarket.com. Another great option would be to come to Newburyport early enough to dine at one of the many phenomenal restaurants there. Recommended favs are BRINE Oyster Bar, Carmine Newburyport Agave Mexican Bistro, Mission Oak Grill Newburyport, Black Cow – Newburyport, and Tuscan Sea Grill & Bar.

Check out www.compaqbigband.com and www.anaisreno.com. ‘Like’ the CBB, ‘Anaïs Reno’, and ‘Byfield Community Arts Center’ on Facebook. Follow @anaisrenojazz on Instagram.