#485 Samuel Torres- Percussionist, Educator, Composer, and More!
Photo by Krystal Pagán
This week’s guest is Samuel Torres. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, based in Brooklyn, NY, Latin Grammy Award-winning percussionist and composer Samuel Torres thrives at the intersection of Afro-Latin rhythms, Latin jazz, and contemporary classical music. “…intelligent, sophisticated and explosive." – JazzTimes Magazine
Torres has performed, arranged, produced and/or recorded with the “who’s who” of the jazz, Latin pop and the classical world, including such luminaries as Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, Alejandro Sanz, Ricky Martin, Richard Bona, Lila Downs, Angelique Kidjo, Marc Anthony, Rubén Blades, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and his country’s own international superstar, Shakira. He has been featured as a composer and soloist with classical orchestras such as Berlin Symphoniker, City of London Sinfonia, Cuban National Symphony, The Bogotá Philharmonic, Medellín Philharmonic, and The Cali Philharmonic.
In 2019 Torres won the Latin Grammy Award for the Best Classical Record with his album 'Regreso' a concerto for congas and symphony orchestra. He is a three-time recipient of the New Jazz Works Grant by Chamber Music America and received 2nd place at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition in 2000.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Jacquelene Acevedo! Jacquelene is a Grammy Award-winning percussionist who is respected in her field and creating waves. She has recorded/toured with Jeremy Pelt, Alicia Hall Moran, and Mentor/Father, Memo Acevedo, among others. She’s performed at The Apollo, Lincoln Center, Radio City, National Sawdust, Toronto Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Bluenote: China and across jazz clubs in Europe and the U.S. She was also a part of the Ladies Roundtable episode.
Happy Birthday to Paulo Stagnaro! Paulo has established himself as an innovative voice in today's generation of creative young artists. Hailed by jazz great Ralph Peterson as "a young master percussionist," Stagnaro has been a force on the ever-evolving New York scene since moving to Brooklyn in 2012. This year alone, he has performed and/or recorded with NEA Jazz master Paquito D'Rivera, Grammy-Winner Angelique Kidjo, Jazz Legend Dave Liebman, and formed part of the all-star rhythm section for Sting’s 25th Anniversary Rainforest Fundraiser at Carnegie Hall featuring James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Stephen Stills. Paulo also runs the lesson subscription site: Conga Chops. Paulo has also been on some of the Fellas Roundtable episodes.
Happy Birthday to Elena Bonomo! Elena is a drummer, percussionist, band leader and music educator based in the NYC area. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Performance.
Actively involved in both the pop/rock and musical theater scenes, Elena strives to create fluidity across all musical genres. She has performed at venues across NYC including Feinstein’s/54 Below, Birdland, The Blue Note, Symphony Space, The Green Room 42, Rockwood Music Hall, Pianos, The Bitter End, and many others. She is currently in the house band for FEMME Jam, and all-female led jam session that takes place once a month at Brooklyn’s C’Mon Everybody (led by Camille Trust, Melissa McMillan, Alita Moses and Miranda Joan).
In the theater realm, Elena has toured across the United States as the drummer for the 1st National Tour of the hit Broadway musical, Waitress (music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles). She originated the drum chairs for two Off-Broadway shows including The Hello Girls and A Strange Loop, and appeared as the drummer on both of their Original Cast Recordings. An active sub in the NYC Theater scene, her Broadway and Off-Broadway sub credits include Waitress, Be More Chill, Cagney, For Colored Girls, and A Taste of Things to Come.
Elena has shared the stage with Jordin Sparks, Brandy, Hillary Scott (of Lady A), Tony-award winning actress Patina Miller (Pippin, Sister Act), Annie Golden (Orange is The New Black), Nikki Renee Daniels, Constantine Maroulis, Desi Oakley, Christine Dwyer, Solea Pfeiffer, Natalie Walker, Heath Saunders, and jazz vocalist Jacqui Naylor. In addition to her US appearances, Elena has performed throughout the Caribbean, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe while working as band leader for Holland America Cruise Lines. She has toured nationally with Boston based Americana/Folk group, The Novel Ideas, with whom she also recorded an album.
After two successful runs at the American Repartory Theater in Cambridge, MA and at The Ordway in St. Paul, Minnesota, Elena currently holds the drum chair for Broadway's newest hit musical, SIX (by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss).
Happy Birthday to Eric Renick! He is the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Principal Percussionist since 2010, Eric Renick began his musical studies at the age of 12. A native of Indianapolis, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Butler University, where he studied with Jon Crabiel. While at Butler, Mr Renick also won first place in the University’s Concerto Competition. He gained a Master’s degree and artist certificate from Chicago’s Roosevelt and DePaul universities under the guidance of Ted Atktatz, Eric Milstein and Ed Harrison. While in Chicago he performed with the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony’s MusicNow Series, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, as well as co-founding the Chicago Arts Orchestra.
In 2007 Eric Renick was awarded a Fellowship with the New World Symphony (NWS), where he performed under the batons of Michael Tilson Thomas, Osmo Vänskä, Marin Alsop, Robert Spano, John Adams and Vladimir Ashkenazy, among others; performed as part of NWS’s Percussion Consort and participated in digital media collaborations. Mr Renick has also performed with the St. Louis, Kansas City, and New Mexico symphonies, Grant Park, Breckenridge and Spoleto (USA) festival orchestras, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Malaysia Philharmonic orchestras.
Eric Renick is a regular collaborator with cross-genre musicians as well as film scoring. He also performs in the Antipodes Percussion Project, an ensemble focused on using percussion chamber music to educate young musicians. Mr Renick is an Artist Teacher at the University of Auckland.
Happy Birthday to (Scott) Garrison! Garrison is the Artist Relations/Marketing/Manufacturers Representative at Drum Workshop Inc. and he was Tony Williams drum tech from 1994 through Tony's passing in 1997.
Gig Alerts
The Roots Picnic London version is happening at Crystal Palace Bowl August 8th and 9th.
The Snarky Puppy Somni World Tour is happening now.
Damon has some upcoming gigs with different artists.
Educational Spotlight
Some reminders.
If you are interested in joining one of the 17 committees for the Percussive Arts Society, the opening to submit your application is from April 1st-30th.
Get support for your percussion education with a scholarship from the Percussive Arts Society. The 2026 PAS Scholarship applications are now open, and are due on April 30.
Percussive Notes’ new issue is available now.
PAS Day of Percussion events for the rest of April and start of May.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording is, “Indestructible” by Ray Barretto from the album with the same name. More personnel info can be found HERE.
Music News
NPR has received a pair of charitable donations totaling $113 million, enabling it to continue operations after federal funding cuts. -Article
NPR’s reaction to the donations.
The Tennessee House Finance, Ways and Means Committee voted 11-15 to block the state’s Live Music Support Act, despite strong bipartisan support. -Article
One heavily publicized trial later, a jury has determined that Live Nation violated antitrust laws and, in the process, overcharged customers for tickets between May 2020 and 2024. Meanwhile, lawmakers and organizations are urging the presiding judge to split the promoter from its Ticketmaster subsidiary.-Article
Live Nation and Ticketmaster will be required to pay $9.9 million for its misleading ticketing practices, the D.C. Attorney General announced. -Article
Senators Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and more call on the court to investigate the surprise deal between the DOJ and Live Nation. -Article
What some of the AG’s are doing about it…
Samuel Torres Interview
The song leading into the interview is, J.S. Bach’s: “Duet No. 1 in E minor, BWV 802” performed by Samuel Torres and Trio Libre. Arranged by Samuel Torres.
Damon recounts why Marcos Torres left the podcast.
Samuel talks about what he did during the pandemic times, as well as falling in love with his now wife, Sarah Alden.
Samuel got his Music Composition undergrad degree from Bogotá’s esteemed Universidad Javeriana.
He got his masters degree from Manhattan School of Music in Classical Composition.
May 1st Samuel’s new album Trio Libre comes out. He has a release concert on May 8th in NYC at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. He also has a concert before that on April 30th at Teatro Colsubsidio, Bogotá Colombia.
Samuel talks about what music he learned as a kid and growing up. He talks about learning different styles and genres.
Samuel talks about the difference between this forthcoming album and a previous one he led, “A Dance For Birds”
Samuel mentions the composer, John Corigliano and his piece, “Conjurer: Concerto for Percussionist and String Orchestra”
Samuel talks about the writing of his Trio Libre album which he recorded at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY.
Damon mentions one of Samuel’s Congahead videos.
Samuel talks about his path and inspiration to get to the compositional style he writes for now.
Damon mentions Samuel’s uncle, Edy Martinez and asks about Samuel’s piano prowess.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Thom Hannum.
Samuel talks about writing for other instruments, like cello and clarinet.
Samuel talks about playing maracas and his previous PASIC clinic.
Samuel talks a bit about South American percussion instruments.
Samuel talks about recording and making choices and compositional decisions.
Damon mentions the album by Martin Bejerano called, The Purple Project that he recorded on with Samuel. Samuel also mentions Martin’s Cuban American album.
Samuel talks about playing as a percussionist with a drumset player.
Samuel picks the iconic recording and talks about why it is important to him.
Samuel loves Superman.
Samuel uses Latin Percussion and Remo Drumheads.
Shout-out to Edwin Bonilla, Pedrito Martinez, Little Johnny Rivero, Arturo Sandoval, and Ernesto Simpson.
You can follow Samuel on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is, “We Have Each Other” performed by Samuel Torres and Trio Libre.
