Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Joan Torres: Before

5

Joan Torres: Before

By

Sign in to view read count
Joan Torres: Before
Fledgling musicians coming up in these accelerated techno times can benefit from pursuing individual projects without having to rely on major labels or other people to make decisions for them. Joining this crop of young lions is bassist Joan Torres, who is out to make it on his own terms with All is Fused, without ever relinquishing control or quality.

Having honed his skills through Boston's Berklee College of Music programs while studying and playing in Puerto Rico, it was inevitable that Torres would interact with likeminded musicians, leading to jams, gigs and, now, Before. Showcasing all-original material and recorded entirely in San Juan, it is evident that dedication to detail has achieved a terrific result.

From David Ojeda's piano intro on opening "Doorway," also featuring tasty guitarist Sergio Gonzalez, there is a sense that this music was approached on a personal level well beyond these players' collective years, and it just keeps getting better. The novel arrangements are acutely tight and defined by drummer Fernando Garcia, who sets a blistering pace on "Another World," and "True," where alto saxophonist Jonathan Suazo lays down a subtle backdrop to support his vivid solo. Suazo also shines on "Enlightenment," where he is joined by guitarist Gabriel Vicéns, displaying his exquisite tone and fluid playing.

As a leader and bassist, Torres has done an excellent job of producing, composing, arranging and selecting the accompanying musicians for this project. Though they are all obviously friends, it takes much more than that to produce a worthwhile record. There is the required talent, skill and dedication to the ensemble sound as a whole while not counting out individual efforts in the final outcome. There are many criteria involved in deciding to make music together; Torres and his band mates have, for all the right reasons, made it work, and Before is the harmonious proof.

Track Listing

Doorway; Another World; Vicissitudes; Disbelief; True; The Chase; Tragic End; Enlightenment.

Personnel

Joan Torres
bass, electric

Joan Torres: bass; Sergio Gonzalez: guitar; David Ojeda: piano; Fernando Garcia: drums; Jonathan Suazo: alto sax; Gabriel Vicens: guitar (7, 8).

Album information

Title: Before | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.