'All the World is Green' from the Glitter and Doom Tour:
Influences
Sly Stone, Bill Withers, Jacques Brel, Richard Pryor, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Vonnegut jr.,
luis Buñel, B B King, Tom Waits, Howlin' Wolf, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Paco De Lucia, Vicente Amigo, Juan Serrano, Led Zeppelin, Meshell N'Degio'cello, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Pink Floyd, Manu Chao, Bulgakov, Joseph Campbell, Greg Palast, Garcia-Marquez and Steve Martin
Press Blurbs for "The Beat Outside":
“’The Beat Outside’ expresses the Omar Torrez Band's passion for both the vintage sounds of artists like Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix and their love of song writers like Leonard Cohen and John Prine. This record combines juicy grooves and formidable musicianship with songs that actually reflect our brutal and absurd time.” ~ Amazon.com
“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
"If you enjoy great guitar playing, you'll enjoy this album" ~ 88.1FM WYCE
“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.” ~ Seattle Times
"'The Beat Outside' is downright funky, albeit some unusually smart funk" ~ Easy Reader
Sounds Like
Jimi Hendrix, Andres Segovia and James Brown drinking Tequila in a bar in Russia, playing all night until they fade into the oblivion of the early morning.
“Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix?!
The fastest fingers in the West,
a massive talent poised to break out and kiss the sky.”
~ The Los Angeles Times
“Torrez, [a] guitar wizard …
ranges from Flamenco mastery to hot rock”
~ The Seattle Times
Omar Torrez Band (OTB) is indeed blessed with all that is right within the world of music – a passion for their art, an audience to share it with, and enormous talent to back it all up.
One could write a novel about front man Omar Torrez’s heritage, ranging from Spanish and Basque (via Mexico) to Norwegian, Native American and Russian roots. Born and raised in Seattle (where OTB was voted ‘Best Band’ for three consecutive years by Seattle Weekly), the young artist 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 from the Cuban and Spanish musical masters such as Carlos del Puerto, Jr. and Juan Serrano, Omar immersed himself in classical and Flamenco guitar. Living a life of the gypsy, he eventually found himself coming full circle back to his American music roots. This remarkable versatility caught the ears of Tom Waits who chose Omar to be his guitarist for the 2008 Glitter and Doom tour. His music now reflects these various experiences, revealing a multi-dimensional artist that is rare in today’s music scene.
Torrez and his writing partner, multi-instrumentalist John Wakefield, have attracted world-class players to join them in OTB. Among the various artists that play with them regularly: Tige DeCoster and Carlos del Puerto, Jr. on bass, Byron Vannoy, Dale Fanning and Jimmy Branly.
OTB has toured extensively both in the US and abroad in support of their 2 releases on Russia’s major label Soyuz Music. They have shared the stage with musical giants, including the Buena Vista Social Club, Jethro Tull, Pancho Sanchez, Susana Baca, and Francisco Aguabella, as well as such underground favorites as Indigenous, B-side Players and Sidestepper. Endorsements include: Fender, Breedlove Guitars, and L.R. Baggs.
In the latest album, “The Beat Outside”, OTB has seamlessly blended their rock, funk, blues and Latin influences to make original yet radio friendly music.
With a West Coast tour in place this fall to support the release of their first single, (after Omar returns from the Tom Waits "Glitter and Doom" tour), the band is poised to continue crossing musical, generational, and cultural boundaries with their passionate energy and sound.
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hola!!... fui a verte al concierto que diste en Mexicali mexico.. y sali fasinada con tu musica!!!!! Felicidadess! eres un gran artista!!!... me encanto tu musica.. pero ahora mi problema es donde puedo conseguir tus discos!!!... los quiero todooss!! besos, saludos y mucha buena vibra!!! desde mexicali!
......um, as I was saying, this Mexican food and hot sauce created a huge stomach ache that night, but it was certainly not Fernando's fault!
Was there ever an art showing of your dad's work in Seattle? I seem to remember talk of one. Well, please let us know if there will be one at monsterpotter@msn.com or 448-7503.
Take Care and hope you enjoy being back in Seattle!
Congratulations on your new album/CD, and for all the great work you've done lately! It's fun viewing those Tom Waits videos and listening to your music. Your father would be so proud! Ah, here he is now:
This photo was taken several years ago at a BBQ/Peace Concert in the park. I hope you don't mind me posting this here. We sure do miss Fernando in Seattle, he left us way too soon.
Fernando used to wait tables at this Campos Mexican Food joint on Roosevelt while he was attending the UW. He and I talked about this once and I vaguely remember him waiting our families' table when we visited from Eastern Washington in the mid-to-late 60's. I continued the tradition after I moved to Seattle. I remember him being so polite and helpful. Once in 1969 when I was in the hospital here for a leg injury, my dad took me to Campos for some real food, seeing as I'd been eating bland hospital food for a while. The main floor was full, so my dad carried me up
Hey what's up? Your set on last saturday's concert was cool. I was really stoked that from the other bands I knew nothing about, you guys stood out top notch. Very awesome. Although I didn't get a chance to purchase a CD from you guys, where can i get one? SO hopefully you guys will be back in town soon.
Love your contagious musical pastiche, lifts the spirits, and involuntarily the feet move :) I'm glad I got to see you guys perform at the Tijuana festival, I hope you come back real soon! Hugs!
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