Ian Torres: Comprovisation

Chicago-based trumpeter Ian Torres is an accomplished composer, arranger, and educator. From 2008 to 2014, he was the leader of one of the most exciting big bands in the city's history.  After a hiatus of over a decade, Torres returns with his second release, Comprovisation, a portmanteau term meaning the merging of composition and improvisation. The title perfectly illustrates Torres' musical vision.

Out of the nine tracks on the record, six feature Torres unaccompanied by others, playing his trumpet over an electronic soundscape of his creation.  One exception is the introspective title piece, on which Torres switches exclusively to the piano. His sparse chords chime and flow hauntingly over sampled drums.  In this brevity and lyricism, there are echoes of Haku poetry.

On one tune, "Democrappy," Torres creates an energetic, soulful cadence using sonic effects.  He then alternates between burnished trumpet lines and otherworldly synth phrases.  The contrast between the two instruments is not only intriguing, but it also showcases Torres' facile improvisational skills, particularly on his horn.

Another tune where Torres appears on keys is the dramatic "Crawl and Walk."  Here, accompanying him are drummer Greg Fundis and saxophonist Jon Irabagon.  With these hypnotic, gripping refrains, the trio builds an incandescent melody amid a tense ambience.   Similarly atmospheric is "I'll be Bach."  Trombonist Steven Duncan joins Torres and Irabagon on this short tune. The trio plays in unison, languid, contemplative lines reminiscent of symphonic etudes. 

Fundis and Irabagon rejoin Torres on "The Legend of the Prince of Darkness?" an homage to trumpeter Miles Davis that concludes with Davis' monologue.  Torres exchanges simmering lines with Irabagon over Fundis' percolating beats. Torres then takes a mellifluous and eloquent solo that flows effortlessly in and out of the central theme.

With these nine musical sketches, Torres demonstrates a different aspect of his musicianship as they are very different from his previous work.  Comprovisation is an interesting album that may not be for "purists" but will satisfy open-minded listeners.

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