A debut album is special to any musician, and its especially true to Danny Reyes who describes the release of his album Influences as a dream come true.
“I worked on this album for three years and it has been a dream to release an album since I was in high school,” explained Reyes, a music professor at Western New Mexico University.
Since his arrival to WNMU in 2013, the university community has experienced a renewed energy in the expressive arts program. A new pep band, mariachi concerts and partnerships with area schools are all professional achievements.
The music and work it took to make an album a reality is a personal achievement for Reyes who includes three if his former school mates as musicians in several tracks.
“This is my debut album, so it means a lot to me,” said Reyes. “It means that all the work I put into my studies, my playing, composing and arranging was well worth it.”
The eight track album is described as contemporary jazz with a little hip-hop and rock influence. Seven of the tracks are original with an eighth track being a cover of a Mulgrew Miller tune titled Holding Hands.
An El Paso native, Reyes began playing the trumpet when he was 10 years old. He earned a degree in jazz education and a master’s degree in jazz performance from William Paterson University.
The album is available for purchase on several online sites including www.dannyreyesmusic.com.
