Nestor Torres - Treasures Of The Heart (1999)

Nestor Torres' liner notes describe the opening track, "Musing," as "the best of both worlds" (combining his Latin jazz roots with smooth jazz sensibilities), but that tag could apply almost universally. On that song, Torres' flute dances and skips over an easy hip-hop vibe before Latin-flavored synth horns begin rising. The melody cruises on over a feisty mix of that urban flow and David Forestier's heavy percussion, before Torres and keyboardist David Mann do a festive improvisational swirl over the same grooves. On "Luna Latina," Teddy Mulet's bold trombone arrangements forge a Latin big-band playground for Torres and vibist Dave Samuels to trade sassy lines over. "Tropichic" kicks that energy level up another notch, with Torres piping his way over a brisk samba groove and giving way in the middle for a blazing cat-and-mouse improv by pianist Jean Michael and percussionist Richard Bona. Even the more in-the-pocket smooth jazz tunes have a little touch of the exotic Latin flavors. The title track would be a straightforward soul ballad led by flute if not for the peppy flamenco guitar solo by Marc Antoine and Torres' percussive interaction with some gentle soundscaping. And "Velvet Nights," featuring the gentle soprano sax lines of Kim Waters, speeds up just a bit midway through for a mini-jam between Torres and percussionist Edwin Bonilla. Torres even takes a well-worn cover tune like "Ain't No Sunshine" and gives it a jungly, sparsely arranged Brazilian feeling. ~ Jonathan Widran