Candice Reyes

Candice Reyes Quintet

Fernando Lechuga

Last Sunday at the Shadow Lounge , the local jazz community was awed by the talent of Candice Reyes and her Quintet. We have watched Candice as she has matured as a singer, and if last Sunday was any indication…..look out world! Her voice has become richer, fuller, and the subtle nuances of her vocalization were delightful! Candice and her group opened with Cole Porter’s great tune, “Night and Day”. She went on to wow the audience with renditions of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”, "Stella by Starlight", "Night in Tunisia", and a super hot version of "Billy’s Blues", (written by Billy Holiday). Miss Holiday would have been so proud. She also did a hot, fun version of “Honey Suckle Rose”. Things only got hotter when Candice belted out a strong and very sultry version of “At Last”.

This fine quintet really made you “feel” the music right to your very core. I found my heart beating to the rhythm of this great ensemble.

Candice "scatted" to the audiences delight and received several standing ovations, and an encore request. She pleased the audience by singing the VERY FIRST song she ever sang in public, at 12 years of age. The song was one of her favorites, “Route 66" and boy, did she do it justice!

The quintet is Candice Reyes, vocals, Abel Mireles playing sax,. Angel Jimenez on drums, David Rodriguez on stand up bass, and David Valles on guitar. Sitting in on keys was Fernie Lechuga. If you are a singer, these are the guys you want backing you up. Abel was wailing on the sax, Angel was killing those drums, David Rodriguez was smooth as molasses in summer on the big bass, Fernie tickled the hell out of those black and whites, and David Valles was cool on that guitar of his.

All in all it was a great afternoon of truly cool jazz. This was a fundraiser for the "El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble". For more information on this youth ensemble, see the “Education” page of our website.

Photos of this event are posted on our web site Photo Gallery. --Ken Vaughan