YVC Jazz Ensemble joins Rivers Jazz Orchestra and Francisco Torres in concert
The Yakima Valley College Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will perform this spring with the Three Rivers Community Orchestra and renowned Los Angeles-based trombone player and recording artist Francisco Torres. The free concert will be held on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in the Eisenhower High School Auditorium and will feature Latin-based jazz. Concert attendees will be eligible to win a $200 Ted Brown Music gift card.
Torres is a trombonist, arranger, composer and educator from Sonora, Mexico. He started his musical training at 15 years old, playing alto saxophone then switching to tuba and euphonium. By accident, he discovered jazz trombone while watching the jazz band practice before school and was hooked.
He has served as musical director, producer and arranger for the Grammy-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez for 12 years and a member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, John Beasley’s Monkestra, and Bill Cunliffe’s Bachannalia. He has been a part of several Grammy-winning records including “Latin Soul” by Poncho Sanchez, “¡Ritmo!” by Clare Fischer, and “That’s How We Roll” and “Life in the Bubble” by Gordon Goodwin. Over the past several years, he has produced several Poncho Sanchez albums, earning five Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album.
He has performed as a sideman on dozens of albums from artists such as Michael Bublé, Ray Charles, Jennifer Lopez, Brian Setzer, Ricky Martin, Los Lobos, Spoon, Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Eminem, Bob Dylan and more; in addition, Torres has numerous film credits and television appearances. As an educator, Torres is an in-demand clinician and guest artist.
Known primarily as a studio and jazz trombonist, Torres has also excelled in the field of classical music. He can be heard as trombonist, bass trombonist and valve trombonist on the Pixar film “Coco”. Some of his most recent films credits are “The Secret Life of Pets”, “Ice Age 4”, “Penguins of Madagascar”, and “Straight Outta Compton.”
YVC’s Music program provides students with affordable academic courses and quality performing opportunities in vocal and instrumental music as well as private lessons. The department offers courses designed for students who have an interest in music as a non-major. YVC’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos have won numerous awards and are known throughout the Pacific Northwest region for their quality
The concert is free and open the public. Visit YVC’s calendar for more information on upcoming events and activities.
Press Release Contacts:
Dustin Wunderlich / 509.574.6870 / dwunderlich@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu