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ADRIAN MA, HOST:
A collage of piano, vibraphone and conga drums - that's the trio of instruments you'll hear in "Trio Libre"...
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MA: ...A forthcoming album by Colombian-born percussionist and composer Samuel Torres.
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MA: "Trio Libre" is a different sort of album for Torres because it's more minimal and stripped down.
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SAMUEL TORRES: "Trio Libre" - it's a very interesting project for me, a new challenge, because instead of going for more instruments, like I did in my previous albums, I did a symphonic album. I did album with a big band. I went the other way. I went to have a minimal sound.
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TORRES: When I began to have this idea to put this project together, I didn't know - and I think I still don't know because that's the magic of life, the uncertainty - if it was going to work because I'm deciding to not use the formula of how Latin jazz is constructed.
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TORRES: Yeah, that's a tune. We have each other. In that pick-up that entered, that first motif of the piano, (vocalizing), it's my imaginary tribute to Tito Puente because that's the motive and the role of the piano in the tune "Oye Como Va."
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TORRES: I think we all - music lovers - we can have many debates about things. But I think one thing that we can agree is the one one of the most influential - some people say the most influential composer - of Western music was Johann Sebastian Bach.
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TORRES: This piece of Johann Sebastian Bach - this one is called the "Duet No. 1 On E Minor." It is not one of his most known pieces, but the way he incorporated rhythmic syncopation and the way he put chromatic movement in the harmony, I was just fascinated.
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SARAH ALDEN AND SAMUEL TORRES: (Singing in non-English language).
TORRES: I wanted to write this song to my wife, Sarah Alden. She's an incredible violin player here in New York.
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ALDEN AND TORRES: (Singing in non-English language).
TORRES: It's very personal, but it means a lot to her. It's both of us singing and the first time I ever record my voice in a project. But it's a love letter to her.
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ALDEN AND TORRES: (Singing in non-English language).
MA: That is Samuel Torres on congas playing with Carmen Staaf on piano and Felipe Fournier on vibraphone. Their debut album, "Trio Libre," is out May 1.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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