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Puerto Rican flutist Nestor Torres stands side-by-side with the flute legends Rampal & Galway in classical music, Richard Egues’ Charanga style, Jethro Tull rocker Ian Anderson, and jazz giants Herbie Mann and Hubert Laws. Yet Latin Grammy Award-winning Nestor Torres’ rhythmic and mellifluous flute sound remains apart in a class all by itself. Nestor has 14 recordings as a soloist, earning him 4 Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination, and one Latin Grammy Award. He has collaborated with such diverse artists as Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Matthews, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, and many performances with major symphonies throughout the world. This is a testament to the remarkable journey Torres has taken to enrich the lives of those who experience his talents.
Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nestor Torres moved to New York City, where he pursued Classical flute studies at the Mannes School of Music, Jazz at Berklee College of Music, and Classical and Jazz at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He also learned to improvise in the Charanga Cuban Dance Music style, which helped shape and develop Nestor’s melodic and danceable sound.
Nestor’s CD This Side of Paradise won the Latin Grammy award in the Pop instrumental category, originally scheduled for presentation on September 11, 2001. This great achievement - and its timing - proved to be a major turning point for Torres. He notes, “Of course, it was a great honor and privilege to win the Grammy. That I was to receive it on 9/11 gave my work and my music a stronger sense of mission and purpose.”
Torres continues to focus on transcending his role as a jazz flutist to that of an agent of change through crossover multi-media productions, compositions, and performances. His compositions Successors, Marta y Maria, and Disarmament Suite (commissioned by the Miami Children’s Chorus, St. Martha-Yamaha Concert Series, and ICAP - International Committee of Artists for Peace - respectively) are variations on Nestor Torres’ multi-cultural fusion sounds as expressions of today’s world. He is creating a crossover fusion of Latin rhythms, classical, jazz, and pop sounds that are rich and engaging, complex and exuberant, and profound yet accessible.
Besides his achievements in the studio and on the stage, Torres is also the recipient of many awards, including two honorary doctorate degrees from Barry University and Carlos Albizu University, for his commitment to youth, education, and cultural exchanges.
With his Caribbean heritage, classical training, and a unique, rhythmic & melodic approach to Jazz improvisation, Nestor Torres shows his deep respect and knowledge of the tradition of Jazz and Latin Jazz Flute in its purest forms with his 15th album release, JAZZ FLUTE TRADITIONS. This eleven-song offering pays homage to legendary Jazz Flute pioneers like Herbie Mann and Eric Dolphy, as well as Torres’ idol and mentor, Hubert Laws. “For years I’ve wanted to pay tribute to the Jazz Flute pioneers that opened the way for us”, says Nestor. “I am excited to finally make this dream project a reality with Alfi Records.”
Nestor Torres defies the daunting task of bringing together what would seem to be an incongruent mix & match of unrelated pieces by creating a cohesive and exciting narrative of the rich, deep, and somewhat overlooked contribution of the flute to the Jazz canon. His very personal renditions of mid-20th century standards are themselves a contribution to Jazz Flute Traditions to come in the 21st century and beyond.
REVIEW ~ NESTOR TORRES: JAZZ FLUTES TRADITIONS ~ "The recording is a certified masterpiece not only because the legacy of the flute is probed in quietly persuasive terms as Nestor Torres undertakes this ambitious and superbly executed project, and establishes his own mastery of the instrument as a result." - Raul Da Gama, LATINJAZZNET.com
Nestor Torres & Corey Allen “Dominican Suite”
by Latinos UnidosOctober 18, 2022
Latin Grammy Award Winning Flautist and Multi-Grammy Nominee, NESTOR TORRES and renowned Producer & Arranger COREY ALLEN (originally from Boston whose credits include; The Manhattan Transfer, Lou Rawls and Chuck Mangione), have collaborated on their first music project and together they have delivered a musical treasure honoring the culture and music of the Dominican Republic with the album titled: DOMINICAN SUIT”. Exciting, Dynamic, Soulful and Romantic combined with stellar performances
Produced & Arranged by Corey Allen, DOMINICAN SUITE is a love letter to the Dominican Republic’s beautiful people, landscape and music culture. It features the popular Dominican genres of Merengue, Bolero, Bachata, Salve and Mangulina all seamlessly blended and interwoven with Jazz.
It also features a track penned by legendary Dominican artist Juan Luis Guerra
Featured guests include, Dominican artists: Maridalia Hernandez (vocals), Pavel Nuñez (vocals), Janina Rosado (vocals/keyboards), Juan “Chocolate” de la Cruz” (percussion), Alvaro Dinzey (vocals), Federico Mendez guitar), Sandy Gabriel (saxophones) plus the work of Fiete Felsch (clarinet), Doug Webb (saxophones) and with the genial studio work of master recording engineers of the Dominican Republic: Allan Leschhorn, Janina Rosado, Alex Mancilla and the amazing work of mixing and mastering engineer, Tom McCauley (Los Angeles).
FLUTE MASTER CLASSES
Involves working with students on pieces from the standard and traditional flute repertoire to the exploration of Latin American composers, which may include Piazzola, Ginasera, Guamieri & Villalobos.
Improvisation: For both Jazz & Classical (non-jazz). Players: For the development of one’s creativity (through and) for music.
Workshops & Interactive Performances: Uniquely designed and customized for the performing groups and ensembles of the high school, conservatory, college, university, or music center level.
Private Lessons: Customized for the particular need of each flutist.
Basics of Charanga Flute Performance: The flute is the protagonist in the style of Cuban dance music, where the flutist is the soloist throughout. Nestor Torres learned to play this genre in NYC’s hottest Latin Dance Clubs at night while studying at the Mannes School of Music and The New England Conservatory during the day. By applying classical music learning technique and repertoire, he became a master Charanga flutist. In a concise, straightforward manner, he shares the basics and lays the foundation for ay flutist to be able to play Charanga.
LECTURES ~ TOPICS MAY INCLUDE
Your Voice: Developing and discovering your own flute voice
Latin Music: Hispanic Bridge to an Integrated Culture.
Flute Cuban Style: History & Demonstration
Conservatory at the Conservatory: An open dialogue to be held with the students, where a range of topics such as the difference between an artist and a musician, Artist as Entrepreneur, and Relevance of Arts and the Artists in Contemporary Society, among others.
LESSONS
Nestor Torres’ goal in his coaching and teaching approach is to empower and inspire the students to look for and discover the unique voice that each of them possesses.
The Sessions
Basic Tools: Sound, Technique, Rhythm, Harmony
Application: Discussions on the practical realities of different kinds of settings and circumstances for today’s and tomorrow’s musicians and performers.
Improvisation: “In Music, as in Life, sometimes you just have to make it up as you go along.” Torres sets the stage for the students to improvise according to their capacity in a relaxed, enjoyable way.
Self Exploration & Discovery. “This is Who I Am, What I Have, What I Do with it.”
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED AND GIVEN PERMISSION TO FIND THEIR WON WAY IN 3 STEPS
a. Discovery ~ Strong and weak points, likes and dislikes, goals
b. Acceptance ~ Respect for Self and Others
c. Motivation ~ Finding out what inspires “You”
These guidelines may be adapted and customized according to the needs of the audience, the students, and the needs of the educating institutions.
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