Javier Reyes was born in Bogotá-Colombia.
Between 1995 and 2000 he studied Drums at the Javeriana
University, where he studied classical percussion for the first three
years, after which he switched to Jazz studies in the same
University. In 2000 he graduated with honors.
After his graduation Javier Reyes was immediatly offered the
opportunity to work in Bogotá as a Teacher at the Javieriana
University and the El Bosque University.
In 2003 he traveled to Berlin to improve his Jazz knowledge. He
studied at Jazz Institut Berlin (Hans Eisler/UdK), where in 2008 he
obtained a Music Education degree with honors. One year later he
Obtained a master’s degree with Emphasis on Composition from
the same University.
Since 2009 he works as a percussion and drums teacher and
coach in the Latin Ensemble at Jazz Institut Berlin.
He plays in Berlin with different bands in styles that range betwenn
Jazz, Rock and Pop:
Slight Defekt, Semacordes, Kelvin Sholar Group (feat. Carl Craig,
Moritz von Oswald), Katja Erbstein (well known german singer and
actress), Marie Séférian Quartett (with which won the first Prize at
the 2009 Berliner Jazz Award), Suse Jank und Band (with which
won the third Prize at the Berlin Jazz Award on the same year),
Ventura, Soname (Enja Label), Ivan Dalia trio, David Riano Molina
Quartett and with the well-known german saxophone Player Peter
Weniger (with concerts in Colombia, Pakistan and Montenegro).
Highlight from the last years include playing with Samuel Torres
(Richard Bona, Arturo Sandoval, Lilia Downs, Shakira) and David
Gilmore (Steve Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Joss Stone). In 2009
he also played on the Jazz Festival Jazz à la Villete in Paris with
the band Tribe from Detroit (with renowned musicians like Wendell
Harrison (Saxofon), Phil Randelin (Trombone) and Marcus
Belgrave (Trumpet), who is well-known for his work with Ray
Charles. In 2013 Javier played in Chico Buarque’s „Opera do
Malandro“ in the Neuköllner Oper in Berlin, which was a total
sucess.
As a drummer, he is characterized by his passion and creativity,
1and by his involvement in the projects in which he engages, which
make him an irreplaceable element and a key factor of the bands
where he plays at.