Los Angeles-based Omar Torrez Band brews a vital concoction of funk, rock and blues with echoes of Latin music. The Seattle Times music critic exclaims: "Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix?! The fastest fingers in the West, a massive talent poised to break out and kiss the sky."
These are thrilling times for Omar and his band mates, as they just released an EP entitled "Beat Outside" and are currently recording the CD due to come out this fall. The EP features five new tracks that will give fans a delicious taste of the upcoming third full-length CD. Omar's band will tour the West Coast, as well as Eastern Europe, to promote the release.
Omar's permanent four-piece band is a brand new creature, formed in Los Angeles in 2007. Some band members are relatively new while others played with the artist from the beginning days of his career in Seattle. This new international band consists of such notable musicians as John Wakefield on percussion, Tige DeCoster on bass and Emiliano Almeida on drums.
One can write a novel about this artist's heritage ranging from Spanish and Basque bloods (via Mexico) to Norwegian, Native American and Russian. Born and raised in Seattle, the young artist firmly put himself on the music map when he became a winner in the National Jimi Hendrix guitar competition at the prestigious "Bumbershoot" Festival. Since then, the artist received praise from the media and recognition from the industry. His band was voted "Best Band" by Seattle Weekly readers for three consecutive years and after seeing Omar perform, Fender signed him on a spot to an exclusive endorsement contract, calling him "the company's most exciting rising star."
In 2003, the artist signed a licensing deal with Russia's major label Soyuz Music, leading to two releases and three successful tours where he and his band played numerous shows to packed houses. Omar's new tunes must be hot – as even a demo version of song "We Are" recently received the "Top Five Songs" Award by Songwriter Universe magazine, as well as "Honorable Mention" at the We Are Listening competition.
It must be noted that in comparison to Omar's previous release Dynamisto!, the upcoming CD has a very different sound. After his victory at the Hendrix competition, the artist went on a sabbatical from rock, blues and American music to pursue the music of Cuba and the Andalusian gypsies. Studying with Cuban and Spanish musical masters, he became a powerful classical and Flamenco guitarist and musician. He wrote, recorded and performed while traveling the world and it was during this journey of discovery that the artist had an epiphany – he fell back in love with the fuzz guitar and those vintage rare grooves of his childhood. At this time, Omar also became an educator helping disadvantaged youth by organizing and performing at benefit concerts.
Omar Torrez Band plays at very diverse venues – from the beloved Temple Bar in Los Angeles to some of world's largest festivals, including the "Bumbershoot" festival in the US and "Island of Light" Festival in Moscow, Russia, playing to over 8,000 people when they opened for Jethro Tull. He has shared the stage with such musical giants as The Buena Vista Social Club, Pancho Sanchez, Susana Baca and Francisco Aguabella, as well as such underground favorites as Indigenous, B-side Players and Sidestepper.
Here is what The Seattle Times music critic said about Omar's last release: "Torrez, the guitar wizard who ranges from Flamenco mastery to hot Latin rock... returns with a dazzling new record, Dynamisto! Dynamic, dynamite!"
For more information and booking contacts, please visit www.omartorrez.com, write to masha@omartorrez.com or call +1 (310) 403-29-09 (US).
Omar gives guitar lessons in Los Angeles. All levels and styles. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to Masha Tsiklauri or call +1 310.403.2909 (USA).
Omar Torrez and his band have performed at numerous venues such as Conga Room, Whiskey A GO GO, Walt Disney Center, the Temple Bar (Los Angeles, USA); The Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago); Showbox, Triple Door, Tractor Tavern, Century Ballroom and the Bumbershoot festival (Seattle, USA); Crystal Ballroom, Portland Art Museum (Portland, USA); Caesar's Palace (Las Vegas, USA); Kitaisky Letchik, Proect O.G.I., Petrovich, Gnessin's Academy; Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia); as well as Cuba, Mexico, Canada and Spain.