Alvaro Torres Trio: Mairena

Álvaro Torres laid the groundwork for his jazz journey in a common way (for this uncommon profession): by studying classical piano from a young age. The aspect of improvisation pulled him away from the classical world, into a globe-trotting search based in Spanish folkloric and Hindustani music and jazz and a Master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music.. He blends these diverse forms of musical expression on Mairena.

The Spanish-born and New York-based Torres uses the piano trio—with bassist Masa Kamaguchi and drummer Kresten Osgood—to express his multicultural vision.

Torres cites the influence of Ornette Coleman, Paul Bley, Johannes Brahms and Isaac Albeniz. Bley seems especially apt. Torres' approach has a Bley-like, jumbled-forward feel. Compositionally. Coleman does indeed come to mind, with a boldness and devil-may-care approach to melody and a trio dynamic that is as interactive as it is unpredictable.

"Lum Verda" opens the disc on an insouciant note, the trio members jostling along then giving way to a pensive bass solo comped by lively yet understated drum work. The title tune, based on a character created by Spanish poet Juan Machado, is by turns riotous and poignant and pensive

The album was recorded in 2025, during the trio's Spanish tour on stops in Madrid and Seville. The tunes—all except one—are Torres originals. They mix his various influences nicely. The lone cover, Cole Porter's "Everything I Love" injects a dose of familiarity into the novelty of the leader's original tunes. Even so, improvisation rules on the American Songbook gem as well as on the Torres-penned compositions. The trio is on a search as they craft this complex music that remains approachable and engaging from start to finish.