Alex Torres y su Orquesta

Alex Torres y su Orquesta excite their audiences with original, molten-hot Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bomba, Plena and Latin Jazz from their Afro-Caribbean repertoire. This thirteen-piece band fills the room with intricate rhythms, a tight horn section, and dynamic vocals causing an irresistible urge to rise out of your seat and dance. From a tasty guaguanco to a hot mambo to a soulful English-lyric cha-cha-cha to an instrumental Latin jazz composition, there is dance music for everyone. All the selections are original compositions by Alex Torres y su Orquesta.

Alex Torres began his pursuit of Latin music at an early age. Influenced by legendary players such as Machito, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente, he insists on combining the finest musicians to create a pure Latino structure and pulse. Alex Torres y su Orquesta was formed on October 28th, 1980 in Amsterdam, NY. Led by the Bronx-born bassist Alex Torres, his orchestra is presented by hundreds of festivals, performing arts centers and events per year. Their repertoire includes popular Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bomba, Plena and Latin Jazz.

With the current interest in Latin music sweeping the country, Alex Torres y su Orquesta command the stage with a charisma that makes their performance legendary. Emanating energy, and combining technical mastery with the dynamic sound of a Puerto Rican street festival, The Latin Kings are an unbelievable show.

Torres and his band are actively involved in Arts-In-Education Programs, regularly performing and lecturing in schools, familiarizing people with musical forms originating in such countries as Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic in hopes of broadening peoples understanding of Latin culture. These residencies, performances and workshops showcase and/or explain the instruments, rhythms and some of the dance styles associated with Latin music.

The band includes trumpets, saxophone, trombone, timbales, congas, bongos, drum kit, piano, bass, percussion instruments and vocals. Their fifth and newest album, "Elementos" is a double-CD featuring nine merengue selections and nine salsa selections.

Alex Torres y su Orquesta have been the recipients of numerous awards including the New England Cultural Arts Preservation Award, the New York State Music Achievement Award, The Governor´s Excellence in Arts Award (New York State), Metroland Magazine´s "Best Of" Award for seven consecutive years, the Albany - Schenectady League of Arts Award, and the NAACP Albany Chapter Award.

The band performed for the President and Hillary Clinton at the New York State Democratic Convention and also for New York Governor George Pataki´s Inauguration. They have also shared the stage with notables Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Los Hermanos Moreno, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Jane Burnette & The Spirits Of Havana, Larry Harlowe, Tito Nieves, Jerry Gónzalez & The Fort Apache Band and King Changó.

Alex Torres y su Orquesta have been featured in television commercials and they both wrote and performed the music for the PBS weekly program "Made In New York." They recently performed for the inauguration ceremony of Elliot Spitzer as Governor of New York State.

"... Alex Torres and company fired up the crowd … extroverted, boisterous and upbeat. There were extended periods where pianist Nick Lue's butt didn't touch his seat, and percussionist-singer Jimmy Fontenez repeatedly slayed the crowd with his overflowing talent, humor and personality. Torres continues to lead this wild band on their ascent, climbing from the last peak to the next, all while having more fun than people should have a right to. Particularly killer this time were Brian Patenaude's fiery sax solos and the late-set timbale solo from Roberto Dueno, which just floated over the proceedings like a cloud, then suddenly locked horns with the band without any warning at all."

-Paul Rapp