Samuel Torres

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Samuel Torres
Birth name Samuel Torres
Born September 4, 1976
Origin Bogotá, Colombia
Genre(s) Latin Jazz
Occupation(s) percussionist, composer, arranger
Instrument(s) Maracas, Congas, Cajon
Years active 1999 – present
Label(s) One Soul, Indie
Website www.samueltorres.com
Notable instrument(s)
Congas, Cajon, Maracas

Samuel Torres, (born September 4, 1976 in Bogotá, Colombia) is a Colombian percussionist and composer. He started playing at age twelve and became involved with different bands in his hometown. Although, he received classical training, Torres was intrigued by the different styles and rhythms of the Latinamerican and jazz sounds. He graduated from the University of Javeriana in Music Composition.

In 1999, Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval contracted Torres and toured with him for four years. In 2000, Samuel Torres received the second place at the 2000 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for Hand Percussion.

Throughout his career as a percussionist, Torres has performed with jazz artist Tito Puente, Chick Corea, Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo, Dave Valentine, Michael Brecker, Don Byron, Claudio Roditi, Paquito D’Rivera, Caribbean Jazz Project, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Lila Downs, Candido Camero and Mike Stern among other great musicians.

Many of his performances include his participation in the Florida International University big band, the “5 de Mayo Celebration 2001 with Nashville Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Latin Festival 2001 with the L.A. Philharmonic, 2001 Newport Jazz Festival in Madarao, Japan and many more.

[edit] Discography

  • 1996 “Piez Descalzos", Shakira (1996)
  • “Golpeando Fuerte”, Noelia (2000)
  • “Faltaba Yo”, Olga Guillot (2001)
  • “Golpeando Fuerte”, Noelia (2000)
  • “My Passion for the Piano”, Arturo Sandoval (2001)
  • “Piano Amarillo”, Arturo Hanlon (2001)
  • “Smooth Ride”, Frankie V (2001)
  • “Colección de Oro”, Shakira (2002)
  • “Thalia”, Thalia (2002)
  • “Thalia (English), Thalia (2003)
  • “Amar Sin Mentiras”, Marc Anthony (2004)
  • “Concord Picante 25th Anniversary Collection ” – Various Artists (2005)
  • “Duende”, Romero (2005)
  • “Thalia [Bonus Tracks]”, Thalia (2005)
  • “Always Going West”, Mishka Tsiganoff (2007)
  • “Folk’s Songs”, Jeff “Tain” Watts Presents Tain & The Eb (2007)
  • “Refugee”, Hector Matignon (2007)
  • “Small Blue Thing”, Jack Donahue (2007)
  • “Something Still cool”, Elli Fordyce/Jim Malloy (2007)
  • “Sungbird (After Albeniz), Helen Sung (2007)
  • “Bona Makes You Sweat”, Richard Bona (2008)

[edit] DVD

“Drums Solo Revisited” (2004)