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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.
Currently residing
in New York, about two years
ago Miguel released his first full CD called “Panorama
Fest 2010.” Naturally, all the content
was composed, written, arranged
and produced by him.
Two of the tracks were
Pan Injustice and
De Last Band.
A competent
musician, Miguel Reyes has again
brought forth much music for the 2012 Panorama
season, including
Hush Yah
Mouth,
featured here.
Bio
by C. Phillips
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