Ian Torres

Ian Torres is a Chicago-based trumpeter, composer, and producer whose music lives at the crossroads of composition and improvisation. A veteran of Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene, Torres has spent years developing a voice that blends the expressive freedom of live performance with the craft and precision of modern studio production.

After leading the Ian Torres Big Band from 2008–2014 — culminating in the release of the acclaimed album January (2013) — Torres expanded his creative vision through his personal studio, Sótano Creativo Studios, where he writes, records, and produces his projects from the ground up. His approach reflects a lifelong curiosity about sound: horns and synths converse freely, rhythm and harmony evolve organically, and every layer contributes to a sense of motion and immediacy.

His upcoming album, Comprovisation, represents the fullest expression of that vision to date. Recorded and mixed entirely in his Chicago studio, the album explores the intersection between structure and spontaneity — blending live horns, keys, synths, bass, and groove-driven textures into a deeply personal and forward-looking statement.

Through his work as both an educator and recording artist, Torres continues to blur the line between improvisation and production, creating music that is as grounded in jazz tradition as it is inspired by modern sonic experimentation.

Awards

2005 Finalist Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition

2006 Down Beat Honorable Mention Best Student Arrangement

Gear

Bach 72 MLV Bb Trumpet

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