Álvaro Torres piano · Masa Kamaguchi double bass · Francisco Mela drums
Álvaro Torres trio is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most compelling acts in New York’s contemporary jazz scene.
“Masterfully unpredictable… Outstanding.” — All About Jazz
Backed by the legendary New York label Sunnyside Records, they have released their fourth album, Iris, and performed at some of the city’s most prestigious venues, including The Jazz Gallery and Mezzrow. Their original music has also been featured at major festivals in Spain (Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, Mas i Mas Festival) and Mexico.
Blending post-bop, free improvisation, and elements of Spanish folk music, the trio’s work has received widespread critical acclaim. Álvaro Torres has been described as “one of the future great promises of the genre.” — La Razón
Torres has collaborated with true New York legends such as Barry Altschul, Nasheet Waits, Francisco Mela, Tony Malaby, John Hébert, Chris Lightcap, Jeff Hirshfield, and Bill McHenry.
For this concert, he will be joined by his long-standing European trio: master drummer Francisco Mela and Japanese bassist Masa Kamaguchi, two key figures with strong ties to the New York jazz scene.
Francisco Mela
Cuban drummer Francisco Mela is one of the most respected musicians in today’s jazz scene, having collaborated with artists such as Chucho Valdés, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, and McCoy Tyner.
Born in Bayamo, he moved to Boston in 2000 to study at Berklee College of Music, where he is now also a faculty member. He quickly became part of the U.S. jazz scene while developing his own voice as a bandleader.
He has collaborated with artists such as Esperanza Spalding, Lionel Loueke, and Anat Cohen, and has released several albums as a leader, including his project FE with the Crash Trio.
Álvaro Torres
Pianist and composer Álvaro Torres is an emerging voice in New York’s creative jazz scene. His international trajectory has taken him to cities such as Kathmandu, Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Berlin, all of which have deeply influenced his music. Since his debut album Specious Present (2019), he has released several records on labels such as Sunnyside Records and Fresh Sound New Talent, collaborating with musicians like Barry Altschul, Tony Malaby, John Hébert, and Kresten Osgood.
Masa Kamaguchi
Japanese bassist Masa Kamaguchi settled in the United States after studying at Berklee and moving to New York in 1994, where he became a highly sought-after musician.
He has worked with artists such as Sonny Simmons, David Murray, Toots Thielemans, and Tony Malaby, and has participated in numerous recordings with figures like Paul Motian and Dave Douglas.
With an intuitive style and a warm, personal tone, Kamaguchi brings a modern and versatile approach to the double bass.
