last updated 6th February 2008 Fancy listening to the band, see the link at the bottom of the page...
El Maestro Ernesto has been playing Salsa, Merengue and other latin mucic from central America for years. One can tell by the size of his hair. Experience is deeply rooted in there!!! He has performed with many well-known bands. El Maestro Ernesto is originally a timbales player, but circumstances have made him end up into a clave-congas-timbales-cowbell-and-othergadget player. Hey, the guy sings as well on the top of all this!!! How the hell does he manage to do that? He must have a big brain. Well, perhaps he hasn't got that much hair after all. Yeah, his brain might be so big, that it looks like he's got an afro!!! Mystery! 
Band leader of PANAMA, El Maestro Ernesto composes or arranges almost all the songs from the band's repertoire. He is specialised in composing Merengue and all the fast songs that make you be thirsty after dancing each of them. You had better check him out closer during the band's live performances. Lastly, he added "it looks like I have found the right guys
.
Dylan is the band's off-beat double bass player. His nickname: the Room Shaker, which he has earned because of his live bass notes on stage. Dylan has been playing latin music for a few years and joined PANAMA a few years ago, after El Maestro Ernesto, who recruited him, had seen in him a lot of potential. And indeed, besides his dedication to the band, Dylan also shows a lot of enthusiasm
on stage.
Johnny TARR and Matt JONES play the saxophone (alto, tenor, soprano), flute with PANAMA . They are also our main backing vocalists, providing sweet harmonies to the tunes. Johnny lives now in London and is now very busy, working on various projects and therefore cannot always perform with the band. However, he would not miss an opportunity to play with us if he has gap in his busy diary.
Paul Hawkins joined PANAMA in 2007 and since then, he was hooked. His trumpet, as you can expect it, brings so much to the latin feel. He is also an excellent salsero. Chicas, atención!!!
Renes, a.k.a BBWI, is the latest recruit o PANAMA. He was invited to join the band by El Maestro Ernesto after the latter saw his piano playing during a jam session at a local venue.
Renes has always wanted to play the piano in a latin band. Self-taught musician, he provides the band with some melodic salsa, plena compositions which are always welcomed by the band. This contrasts very well with El Maestro Ernesto's merengue compositions.
Renes also stands as the band's lead singer by default, as noone would do it. He is well backed up by Ernesto, Dylan and Johnny. Last but not least, he has released a couple of solo albums called "The garden of Secret" and 2I am Gonna" respectively. Check them out here CDBABY please click here.
The band is performing live on Saturday 10th March at the Talking Heads pub, 322 Portswood road, Southampton(England)
Amigas y Amigos, Panama(the band) is performing at the Talking Heads on Friday 8th february and on Wednesday 18th June at Soul Cellar (opposite Southampton Guildhall). So bring your dancing shoes from 9h30pm to make yourselves happy. Our maestro Ernesto has come back from Panama(the country) where he got new fresh inspirations. Come and check them out.
Here is the video of Chaleur latine (Latin Heat), composed by BBWI in a music shop.
Listen to Ti Mari. A Plena composed and arranged by BBWI on which you can dance during the band's live performances.
El Maestro Ernesto is making the congas sing. High speed low drag!