The past three years have been indispensable in pianist Álvaro Torres’s musical development. The essential ingredient being his adoption of New York City as his home and source of inspiration. Torres’s investment in the deepest jazz scene in the world has allowed him rare opportunities to know and perform with his musical heroes, as he does on his new recording, Iris, which features the legendary drummer Barry Altschul and bass great John Hébert.
Originally from Madrid, Spain, Torres sought out musical inspiration all over the globe. Having completed his studies at the Manhattan School of Music, Torres became addicted to New York City and all it has to offer. He finds inspiration everywhere, from his musical associates to the sounds of the City’s bustling streets.
Long before he moved to New York, Torres had discovered and fell for the playing of Altschul, who had the distinction of being a member of the collective improvising group Circle and trios led by two of the most advanced pianists in jazz: Chick Corea and Paul Bley. Having attempted to meet Altschul in person but never managing to find him, Torres finally wrote the drummer to see if he would be willing to meet. Altschul proved to be very approachable and invited the young pianist over for a session.
An opportunity for a gig at the Mezzrow Jazz Club appeared and Torres invited Altschul and bassist Hébert to form a trio. Since then, the trio has appeared regularly over the past two years, including at the venerable Jazz Gallery and Smalls jazz clubs. Naturally, the ensemble has continued to evolve. Initially, they performed original compositions by Torres and loose standards, allowing the pieces to blossom into improvisatory explorations. Now, Torres provides pieces with more structure, though the openness remains, the group ever able to go off into any musical direction.
When Torres brought the trio to Trading 8s Recording Studio in July 2023, the trio recorded a collection of the pianist’s improvisatory leaning pieces and a beloved bebop standard.
The recording begins with Torres’s fanciful “Old and New,” a composition taking fresh approach to an older original. Played much slower, the treatment creates an entirely new piece that utilizes elements of the original to inspire improv. Mainly improvised, “West Harlem” captures the Latin tinge and energy of Torres’s Dominican neighbors of West Harlem. Springing from the blues, “Iris” is a grooving, joyous celebration of the beautiful things in life.
The playful “Carla’s Ingredient” is a tribute to the late Carla Bley and is based on the great composer’s tune “Battery.” Torres utilizes aspects of an unnamed standard to build “On Broadway,” which is performed in a romantic and open way reminiscent of Paul Motian’s On Broadway record series from the 1990s. Torres being a fan of the jazz tradition of including a standard amongst originals on a recording, the trio presents Bud Powell’s “Celia” performed with swinging abandon.
Torres’s “The Good Life” is becoming a sort of theme song for the trio and mirrors the enthusiasm the composer has for life and performing with this group. The recording concludes with “You Dig?,” a piece that echoes Hébert’s catch phrase and provides a short theme that demands the players to use their imagination to build upon.
The past few years have been good ones for Álvaro Torres. He found a home in New York City, one that provides inspiration, activity, and a spirit for adventure. Torres’s enthusiasm and appreciation can be heard on his new recording, Iris.