On the Culture Front: Music from the Underground, Part 6
by Chris Kompanek on December 23, 2016

Joan Torres’ All is Fused sextet brings a funk edge to bebop-inflected bossa nova. The sound is both familiar and pushing the boundaries of the genre. Torres, the bassist bandleader grew up in Puerto Rico but now lives in San Francisco where he recorded his new album, “Of the Musical.” There’s a strong contemporary sensibility that brings to mind artists like Brad Mehldau and The Bad Plus who play jazz like people who grew up listening to Radiohead. While he doesn’t delve into popular music covers, Torres melds repetitive melodic structure with expansive improvisation. The is most evident on the opening track which begins with a fast paced bossa nova line for piano and bass. About a third of the way in, the groove tightens around a simple driving riff. You might find yourself turning up the volume on “Stream of Melancholy” or being especially still to hear its quiet beauty. The closing track “Unleashed” builds on intimate solo bass grooves to create a sonic quilt of rich musical impulses.

Source: The Huffington Post