Get the songs from the new CD A Night of Serious Drinking right HERE.

BIO

Omar Torrez

A Night of Serious Drinking

Omar Torrez is a Mexican-American guitarist and singer from Los Angeles, Calif. Born and raised in Seattle, Wash., Torrez describes his music as “equal parts rock, Latin, blues, classical, and performance art.”

His latest release, A Night of Serious Drinking, was produced by Tony Berg (Michael Penn, Aimee Mann, Bob Dylan, Pink, Public Image Ltd.) and recorded in Los Angeles.

"I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling." — Frida Kahlo

"Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression, and violence and enjoy it to the full." — Leon Trotsky

This album is currently being released digitally worldwide. The hard copies are available for purchase through the main site as well as live shows – the most fun way to get it.

Omar has toured extensively in the US, Mexico, Russia and Europe. He has performed with music giants, including Tom Waits (as Waits’ guitarist on the worldwide Glitter and Doom tour), Kinky, the Buena Vista Social Club, Jethro Tull, Pancho Sanchez, Susana Baca, Mumiy Troll, Francisco Aguabella and many more.

Torrez’ heritage is as diverse as his music, ranging from Basque (via Mexico) to Norwegian, Native American and Russian roots. In Seattle he received national attention when he won the National Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competition at the prestigious Bumbershoot Festival. After this victory, Omar embarked on a musical, spiritual and physical journey, traveling the world, studying Cuban and Andalusian gypsy music. Learning form the Cuban and Spanish musical masters such as Carlos del Puerto, Jr. and Juan Serrano, Omar immersed himself in classical and Flamenco guitar.

As a Fulbright Scholarship recipient the artist performed to the benefit of children displaced by the 2008 conflict between the Republic of Georgia and the Russian Federation.

Torrez was also recepient of a 2010 grant from the top Mexican governmental cultural organization, CONACULTA, for Entre Mundos, a collaboration between La Banda Sinfónica Mixteca, and Cuban, Bosnian and American musicians, focused on tearing down cultural barriers through the transformative powers of music.

Endorsements include: Fender, Carlos Amplification, Acoustic Image, Breedlove Guitars, and L.R. Baggs. Torrez’ songs have appeared in films like Warren Miller’s “Impact” and on television shows such as NBC’s “Heroes,” "Whoopie," "Felicity", "One Life to Live" and “Grosse Pointe."

This summer Omar went on the tour of Russia with famed troubadour Eric McFadden. Russian fans and media were full of anticipation of the new music and the Omar/Eric curious combination and they were more than satisfied when they saw them live!

The artist is constantly touring the world winning new fans and inspiration.

"Omar Torrez is one of the most unique and talented emerging artists on the global music scene today. His new album, A Night Of Serious Drinking is nothing less than stellar — a must for people who care about real music!"
— Peter Rafelson

“Omar Torrez’s lysergic Latin guitar fluttered like a Bossa Nova hummingbird, a neon Andres Segovia, runs punctuated with Bill Frissel sustains and Hendrix air-raid siren chords.”
— Flagstaff Live

“Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix?! Torrez, [a] guitar wizard…ranges from Flamenco mastery to hot rock. The fastest fingers in the West, a massive talent poised to break out and kiss the sky.”
— The Los Angeles Times