Composer and panist Miguel Reyes, who
shares the same hometown with the late Aldwyn Roberts
aka Lord Kitchener is from Arima in east
Trinidad. And like Kitchener, Miguel - the last son
of Elma Reyes - is also deeply involved with the culture
of Trinidad and Tobago. The year 1980 saw Reyes
relocating to Bermuda, and there becoming a member of a
band called The Real Thing managed by nightclub
owner Choy Aming. His involvement with music
became rooted, and has been the mainstay in his life
ever since.
Recognition in his homeland came Miguel’s
way in 2009 when his acclaimed ‘pan tune’
Bandoleros - vocalized by Tunapuna Scanty
- was performed in competition by steel orchestras at Trinidad &
Tobago’s famed national steelband Panorama. Champion
arranger Yohan Popwell would take Sforzata Steel Orchestra
in the medium conventional bands category to winner’s row
with his arrangement of Reyes’ music - its ‘danceability’
and catchy delivery by Tunapuna Scanty making Bandoleros
a favorite with young people in pan yards all over.
And
international acclaim via New York was just a few months
away when two veteran and world-renowned steel orchestras
Despers USA and
Sonatas
also opted for Bandoleros as their
panorama tune of choice. Once again Bandoleros would
become a champion selection in the hands of Popwell, as he delivered
yet another
winning arrangement, this time with and performed by New
York powerhouse Sonatas.
Miguel Reyes has honed his remarkable
musical acumen through instruction in musical arrangement
and composition under tutelage from recognized educators
and musicians Merle Albino-de Coteau, Leon “Smooth” Edwards
and the late master musician
Clive Bradley.
Now residing in New York, Miguel is
releasing his first full CD called “Panorama Fest 2010.”
And naturally, with all the content composed, written,
arranged and produced by him. One of the tracks available
on the CD is De Last Band,
performed by Peter D’Royce. Other selections
are Pan Injustice and
Flash.
A competent musician,
Miguel Reyes - on
his way to being himself a force to be reckoned with in the
music world - is pleased at De Last Band’s debut here
for the global music community.
Bio by C. Phillips
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