Jazz Articles about Nestor Torres

About Nestor Torres

Album Review

Héctor Lavoe: ¡Que Sentimiento!

Read "¡Que Sentimiento!" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
November 9, 2026

Héctor Lavoe was one of salsa's first superstars. A native of Ponce, PR, he started singing as a child. After moving to New York, he hooked up with Fania, its founder, Jerry Masucci, and Willie Colon. Together, they conjured up a gangster image, mostly for show, for it was the sights, sounds, smell and feel of the Nuyorican barrio they embodied. The music went through a number of phases, but was always an amalgam of Afro-Caribbean, bogaloo and jazz: “bueno ...

Album Review

Gafieira Rio Miami: Beleza Pura

Read "Beleza Pura" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
May 16, 2026

Put on your dancing shoes for Beleza Pura, the sophomore release of Gafieira Rio Miami, the South Florida-based Latin big band. The album presents an exuberant program of Brazilian and Latin jazz standards, updated with spirited arrangements by Ricardo Gilly. The mood is upbeat and the performances are peppered with guest appearances by such Brazilian luminaries as singer Roberta Sá, seven-string guitar virtuoso Yamandu Costa, pianist-composer Antonio Adolfo, and singer-dancer Luciana Mello, along with Puerto Rican flute ace Nestor Torres ...

Album Review

Silvano Monasterios: The River

Read "The River" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 11, 2025

To enhance his musical excursion along The River, composer, arranger and pianist Silvano Monasterios invited eight talented companions on board to share the ride. He did not make it easy for them. As envisioned by Monasterios, this river is by turns placid or turbulent, sparse or overflowing--but invariably tricky to navigate and tame. The entire work, he writes, is “a suite of what I consider Venezuelan music," and was inspired by the people in his native land ...

Album Review

Albare: Plays Jobim Vol. 2

Read "Plays Jobim Vol. 2" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki

by Chris M. Slawecki
June 25, 2021

"I was 14 when I first heard the music of Tom Jobim," recalls Albare, nom de guerre of guitarist Albert Dadon. “I already had six years of guitar learning under my belt. When I first heard those bossa chords, my ears were opened in a whole new way. A musical seed was planted in my brain that would never leave me." Plays Jobim Vol. 2 continues the story from Volume 1, released in May 2020, and polishes many ...

Album Review

Mike Levine: Just Chillin

Read "Just Chillin" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
April 7, 2021

A proponent of the more relaxing side of the jazz spectrum, pianist and keyboardist Mike Levine presents his fourth album as leader, offering thirteen primarily original pieces falling decidedly within the smooth jazz category. A talented composer, Levine's music seems to eschew the core jazz tenet of improvisation in favor of catchy melodies perfect for those chilling-out moments that overwhelm us all sooner or later. A first-call musician by anyone's count, Levine draws on his vast experience performing ...

Album Review

Albare: Plays Jobim Vol. 2

Read "Plays Jobim Vol. 2" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
February 12, 2021

Albare Plays Jobim, Vol. 2 by Moroccan-born, Israeli-raised guitarist Albare (the only name given) isn't quite what it seems. While the names of the musicians and guest artists are listed on the jacket, what is not addressed is the presence of a string orchestra, the only suggestion of which is pianist Joe Chindamo's designation as “orchestra conductor." That's it. Perhaps, however, that is for the best, as the unnamed orchestra is recorded at arm's length and serves essentially as a ...

Live Review

The Latin Jazz All Stars at Dazzle

by Geoff Anderson
January 29, 2019

Latin Jazz All Stars Dazzle Denver, CO January 10, 2019 The All Stars came to town Thursday night and lived up to their name. The Latin Jazz All Stars is an amalgam that periodically organizes and tours with a fluctuating cast of players. A similar conglomeration came through the Denver area almost exactly six years ago. Like Thursday night's group, that band was a sextet and half of the 2013 band returned this year ...