New Album: March 27th, 2020: Daniel Torres - First Statement
“One of the finest tenor saxophonists in the world today. This recording is a brilliant showcase of his musical gifts on so many levels.”
For Immediate Release
The album is a collection of eight original compositions plus a jazz standard that reflects upon the spiritual journey Torres has taken over the past decade, venturing around the world in search of expanding musical boundaries.
Originally born and raised in Málaga, Spain, Torres has since lived and performed in New York, Amsterdam, Toronto, Gronigen and Bucharest, where he studied at prestigious Suny Purchase, Conservatorium Van Amsterdam, Humber College and Prins Claus Conservatorium. Throughout this time, he encountered the musical companions for this project.
"First Statement" features: on guitar, Peter Bernstein, one of the most influential musicians of the past three decades. On alto saxophone, spanish jazz icon Perico Sambeat. Virtuoso pianist Sri Hanuraga, from Jakarta, Indonesia, and Portugal's top tandem: João Lopes Pereira on drums and Romeu Tristão on upright bass.
Following a tour of Spain in 2019, refining and evolving the music, the band then went on to record at renowned PKO studios in Madrid.
Intensity and introspection are some of the sensations Torres evokes on this album. His original tone and unique style (both as a performer and as a composer) is highly personal while still retaining the flavours of past jazz greats including John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Parker, Pharoah Sanders and Lennie Tristano.
"The Wanderer" elicits a dream-like universe, followed by "Minor Explosion", a high-energy piece containing adventurous improvisations. "Roxi's Garden", as well as "Dance of the forest", can be perceived as both fragile and intimate. On track "Ave Fénix", Coltrane's aura is present in it's sonic aesthetic; the composition has a strong magnetic drive due to it's intense modal harmony. "April in August" is a contrafact of the jazz standard "I'll Remember April", inspired by Tristano's intricate melodies. The use of different ensemble configurations allows a wide variety of colors and textures to the whole work: from the title's track, "First Statement", where the composer revisits hardbop's heritage with a modern twist in a sextet setting, to the exquisite duo interpration of "My Ideal", a classic song from the Great American Songbook, wirtten by Robin, Whiting and Chase, demonstrating the intimate bond between Bernstein and Torres. Finally, a bonus track, "Falling up", an exhilarating syncopated boogaloo to lift the soul.
First Statement releases on Outside in Music on March 27th, 2020.
About Daniel Torres:
Musically trained in different cities like New York, Toronto, Amsterdam, Groningen, Barcelona and Málaga, Daniel has become one of the most renowned jazz saxophonists of the international musical scene.
He was born in Málaga, Spain, in 1984 and holds a Bachelor degree of music in “Saxophone Jazz Performance” by the “Prins Claus Conservatorium” (Groningen, Holland), and a Master degree in the same field by the “Conservatorium van Amsterdam” (Amsterdam, Holland). He has also studied temporary at "SUNY Purchase College" (New York) and "Humber College" (Toronto, Canada).
He has performed in different cities around the world, like Amsterdam, Toronto, Barcelona, Tunisia, Bucharest, Rotterdam or New York, in some of the most prestigious festivals and venues such as "Bimhuis", "Canadian Opera Company / Four Seasons Center" or "International Bucharest Jazz Festival" and has collaborated, among many others, with leading jazz icons Dado Moroni, John Clayton, John Best or Eric Alexander.
In 2014, as a member of the "BvR Big Band", he won the first prize at the "18th Meerjazz International Big Band Competition", which is one of the most relevant european big band contests, and in 2016 he has awared with the first prize at the fourth edition of the “Johnny Răducanu International Jazz Competition“ in the "soloist" category (prestigious jazz constest in Romania, Europe).
In May 2019 he recorded his first album as a leader: “First Statement", and did a Tour in Spain with that same project. "First Statement" is a compendium of Daniel's original songs which reflects Daniel's musical background and experiences up until now, that features jazz masters Peter Bernstein on guitar and alto saxophonist Perico Sambeat (who is considered by many one of the best alto saxophonists in Europe).
The rest of the band is made by some of the most renowned young players from the current international jazz secene: João Pereira on drums, Romeu Tristão on bass (both from Portugal) and Sri Hanuraga on piano (from Jakarta, Indonesia).
Daniel is currently based in Spain, where he combines both his teaching and performing activity around the world.
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