The Venetian Presents the Bobby Torres Ensemble

Live Latin Jazz at the Venetian Ballroom with the Bobby Torres Ensemble featuring vocalist Julana Torres (La Colora). She will be backed by Bobby’s Ensemble featuring, of course, Band Leader and Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee  Bobby Torres on congas, Reinhardt Melz (of Pink Martini) on drums, Dan Gaynor on piano, Tom Kay on bass, and the ensemble horns – Lars Campbell and Gary Harris. The Bobby Torres Ensemble features musical talent of the highest caliber in Portland to explore the many musical inflections of Latin Jazz. Bobby’s music is a toe tapping fusion of American and Latin standards arranged with churning Latin grooves richly ornamented with jazz inflections. The Oregonian describes the Bobby Torres Ensemble as “Latin jazz with enough flavor and spice to satisfy your body and soul’s need for rhythmic harmony.”
Note: Load in & Sound check 3:00PM

Bobby Torres, Band Leader

About Bobby Torres: Bobby is a band leader, musician, record producer, songwriter, and session musician with a 40-year professional history that spans the globe and a lengthy discography. Originally from New York City, Bobby developed his reputation while performing with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, touring with Joe Cocker Mad Dogs & Englishmen, and performing and/or touring or recording with countless other music stars such as Al Jarreau, Jackson Browne, Beach Boys, the Captain & Tennille, and Etta James – to name a few. He has an extensive discography. He also performed and toured the globe for 10 years with Tom Jones. Bobby was nominated “Outstanding Percussionist” (a Muddy Waters Award), he was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and he received The Jazz Hero Award from the Jazz Journalists Association. Bobby has been a respected advocate, speaker, instructor and keeper of Latin rhythms on the Portland music scene for many years. The Ensemble is his central focus.

Vocalist Julana Torres

About Julana Torres: Julana Torres, also known as “La Colora” is a multifaceted artist gracing the stages of Portland for over 25 years. A classically trained dancer, singer and actor, Julana’s versatility as a performer combined with her Puerto Rican roots engages audiences in an unforgettable experience of rhythm and dance.