Chris is going to lead a choir workshop at the Muse, inside the School of Music on Barbadoes Street in Christchurch.

Here are the details,

Chris has worked with over 42 different choirs in the USA and Canada. Songs are accompanied by live drumming, Mbira (Thumb piano) or Marimba. The material is drawn from the ancient choral traditions of the Shona people whose favourite proverb is, ‘if you can talk you can sing.’ The uplifting songs include five part harmonies and lots of counter point indicative of most African choral music.

After 23 years of study, initiation & immersion in African music, Chris Berry has been Given the name Gwenyambira “one whose music calls the spirit”. A distinction reserved only for those who have mastered both the complexity & magic of the music. Now based in New York & touring regularly with his incredible world fusion dance band PANJEA,Chris advised by many of Zimbabwe’s spirit mediums has embarked on an international journey to share the ancient knowledge of Njinji using storytelling music, drum and dance. It is the hope that people around the globe will become practitioners of this powerful healing art form & use it as a means of strengthening ourselves, our communities & ultimately restoring balance & joy back into our societies.

THURSDAY  MARCH 25th     Venue- Muse Community Trust 140 Barbadoes Street, Level 3, inside the School of Music

6PM TO 9PM COST $30        Booking Essential

Further information:

Ra McRostie 03 434 8224  or mob 021 1154884

Jeff Duyndam 03 357 22217 mob 0210 273 7514

House of Pleiades is the name of a band we are playing with on Friday July 3rd at the Loons Club in Lyttleton, 16 Canterbury Street. This show will be celebrating cultural diversity and unity, using music as a medium. The show starts at 8 pm, $10.

House of Pleiades is more than a band. It is a house with a foundation. There are pillars inside and all peoples and cultures come together inside this house. We can all play music together in one band, or occupy one of the pillars inside the House.

One of the interesting and real unifying aspect of the pleiades is the connection of these stars to many cultures through their mythology and history. Jimmy Brennan and Tini Te Rangiita have created this band/project with an ancient ancestor, the pleiades, as a core inspiration.

I’m at a loss for words…

I’m back from an amazing healing experience. Sorry to get “woo woo”, but this is real, this is life at it’s best.

We learned that playing music, dancing, drumming, and singing is for healing and is healing. But to get this deep inside is shocking in a good way. I am appreciating Chris and his gift of music. Thank you!

You can listen to his songs at his website panjeamusic.com

You can also download 10 live mp3 tracks from their shows around the country at the website