Juan Pablo Torres

Life and career Torres was born in Puerto Padre (former Oriente Province) on August 17, 1946. His father, who played trumpet and trombone, instilled a love of music in him from a young age. He began his musical work as euphonium player in the municipal band. Before graduating from the Escuela Nacional de Arte, Torres started his career Octavio Sánchez Cotán's ensemble. He also started his career as a producer in EGREM, Cuba's national record label. In 1979, he was chosen as director for the Estrellas de Areito, an all-star ensemble which recorded several albums of descargas, improvised jam sessions. The compilation album A Life in Music was released shortly after his death.

Style His style has been described as the convergence of the two trends of Cuban trombone: the traditional trend, exemplified by Generoso Jiménez, and the jazz trend, spearheaded by Leopoldo "Pucho" Escalante. Torres considered himself influenced by jazz, but "always remembering [Félix] Chappottín".

Awards and honours In 2002, the album Cuban Masters by Los Originales featuring Juan Pablo Torres was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album at the 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, but lost to El Arte del Sabor by Bebo Valdés, Cachao and Carlos "Patato" Valdés. The following year it was nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album along with Generoso qué bueno toca usted, but lost again to El Arte del Sabor.

Discography 1975: Y viva la felicidad (Areito) 1976: Mangle (Areito) 1977: Súper-son (Areito) 1977: Con todos los hierros (Areito) 1977: Cuba romántica (Areito) 1978: Algo Nuevo (Areito) 1981: Grupo Algo Nuevo (Areito) 1985: Yamina (Areito) 1990: Aerobics! (Areito) 1995: Trombone Man (TropiJazz) 1997: Pepper Trombone (RMM) 2000: Son qué chévere (Circular Move) 2001: Cuba Swings (Universal) 2002: Together Again (Pimienta) 2002: ¡Cómo pica! (Pimienta) 2003: Identidad (Timba) 2003: Afro-Cuban Trombone (Pimienta)

With Cuban Masters 2002: Los Originales (Pimienta)

With Maxo Séverin 2001: El tululu (Alizés)