Hi,
a review for last Samuel's CD on air in the next days on
Radiovinilemania in Italy:

http://www.vinilemania.net/vSAMUELTORRES.htm

Ciao ciao Pietro


courtesy http://www.jazzreview.com

Featured Artist: Samuel Torres


CD Title: Skin Tones

Year: 2005

Record Label: One Soul Records

Style: Latin Jazz / Latin Funk

Musicians: Samuel Torres (percussion, piano, fender rhodes), Julia
Dollison (vocals), Michael Rodriguez (trumpet & flugelhorn), Mike
Campagna (tenor sax), Hector Martignon (piano), John Benitez (bass),
Ernesto Simpson (drums), Edmar Castañeda (colombian harp), Ralph
Irizarry (timbal), Wolgfang Barros (colombian maracon)

Review:
It comes as no surprise that the Columbian-born musician is
exceedingly talented. You don't get the opportunity to play with
Arturo Sandoval, and celebrated African performer, Richard Bona, by
being less than great. It also is no surprise that Torres comes from
a family deeply rooted in music, his grandfather a trombonist, and
his grandmother a self-taught guitarist, and singer. These great
early influences also provided the jazz records in which the
percussionist was first taken by. "I went to sleep with this music
and the sounds floated in my head all night long," says Torres.

If there is any surprise, it comes with Samuels' sensitivity and
maturity as a composer and band leader at such a young age. The
musicians on Skin Tones, the 2006 One Soul Records release, were
hand-picked by Torres. John Benitez has a warm, rich tone on his
electric bass that goes tightly with the time-keeping skills of
drummer Ernesto Simpson. Hector Martignon on piano brings out much
of the classical elements of Skin Tones, and also beautifully
accompanies the soft, silky voice of Julia Dollison, which floats
brilliantly over the music on tracks such as "Observatory," and "The
Key." Mike Campagna on tenor saxophone and Michael Rodriguez on
trumpet and flugel horn are the dynamic horn section that take this
immensely diversed band from Latin jazz, to shades of early bebop,
to classical jazz. Rounding out the line up for Skin Tones are Edmar
Castaneda on harp, Wolfgang Barros on Columbian maracon, and Ralph
Irizarry on timbales.

Skin Tones showcases the textural melodies of Samuel Torres, but it
is not a show-off album. Each player here contributes and leaves
thier own mark, which in turn, makes this record a modern classic
for all jazz lovers. Jeff "Tain" Watts has called Torres
an "inventive, lyrical and special artist" and I could not agree
more.





Tracks: Crazy Montuno, Interlude One, Saying Goddbye, interlude Two,
Observatory, Rumba con Maria, Ajiaco (Colombian Potato Soup), The
Key, Skintones, October 22nd, Express To Queens, Fairy Tale,
Interlude Three, Ajiaco (Radio Version), Observatory (Radio
Version), Crazy Montuno (Radio Version), The Key (Radio Version)

Record Label Website: http://www.onesoulonline.com

Artist's Website: http://www.samueltorres.com

Reviewed by: Savon Edwards