José Torres Trío, (Un)Still Life Review

The José Torres Trío started in Seville in 2007, when Torres, a flamenco guitarist from Elche, was invited to participate in the Guitar Festival Ciutat d’Elx. There he met Jasio Velasco, a violist from Granada, and the Finnish drummer Karo Sampela. The chemistry was instant, and Torres created a project where they could pour out their musical interests. The binding factor for the trio is the mutual love and respect for the cannon of flamenco music. Each musician brings different musical styles that combine to form a unique flamenco sound, achieved based on a continual search for an investigation of new forms, textures, and acoustics. In 2013, the trio recorded their first studio production, José Torres Trío, where they were joined by Carmen Linares. The musical maturity of José Torres Trío is reflected in (UN)Still Life, their second studio project, released in 2020. It includes collaborations with Cristian de Moret and Xema Espinosa, and it has established its own sound that is considered “hypnotic,” “very rhythmic,” and “overpowering,” according to reviews.

Positives: An enjoyable collection of styles, playing, singing and instrumentation all wrapped in the wonderful overtones of flamenco.

Bottom Line: (UN)Still Life is nine tracks that present a flamenco-jazz-rock influenced blend of sounds with a varied list of guest artists. Each guest builds on the solid structures that the José Torres Trío has developed of years of playing and performing together. The opening track, “Taranto del serrucho,” features flamenco vocalist and guitarist Cristian de Moret. Moret’s singing is inspired as he embellishes the melody with authentic flamenco sounds. The groove is a mixture of rock meets flamenco. “36” features the trio, with Torres passionate nylon-strung guitar leading the way with Velasco’s violin sounds adding to the passion. Sampela’s drumming is driving without being overpowering. The last four tracks of the album are from a show that Torres created called La Suite del Reloj. The show features dancer Ramón Martínez, singer/multi-instrumentalist Cristian de Moret, and actress/light technician Carmen Mori. It was premiered at the MADFeria festival in Matadero, Madrid in January. The show also toured Estonia, organized by Eesti Kontsert, an Estonian state concert institution. The Estonian dancer Maria Rääk appeared as a guest artist. The music in the suite is passionate and filled with the stunning rhythms of flamenco presented with excellent playing and singing. That’s the short of it!

Connect with José Torres Trío: Website |