Torsten Goods - Manhattan Walls (Remastered) (2024) [Hi-Res]

In 2001, as a 20-year-old, Gutknecht headed to New York with a scholarship to the renowned New School University, where Jack Wilkins and Vic Juris became his teachers. But more importantly for him, he could immerse himself in the “Big Apple” scene for a year and a half: he worked with Seleno Clarke, Barbara Tucker, Reverend Run (of Run DMC), and notably met George Benson, a major influence who also inspired him to sing. He also had the opportunity to perform with Les Paul, who created the stage name Torsten Goods.

With no less energy and determination, Goods had been working in his native Germany before his time abroad. In the year 2000, he became a member of the BundesJugendJazzOrchester led by Peter Herbolzheimer and shortly thereafter – even before finishing high school – he recorded his first solo album: “Manhattan Walls” (Jardis) in 2001, featuring Tony Lakatos, Davide Petrocca, Dejan Terzic, Guido May, Jan Eschke, Andreas Kurz, and Rick Keller.

In 2004, “Steppin” (Jazz4ever) followed, featuring his band at the time with Jan Miserre, Marco Kühnl, and Christoph Huber, along with German jazz talents Olaf Polziehn, Martin Gjakonovski, Dejan Terzic, Tony Lakatos, Johannes Enders, and Lutz Häfner. The album was nominated for the “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik” (German Record Critics’ Award), and international critics enthusiastically hailed Goods as an “emerging new force in the jazz scene.” Soon after, in 2005, he was the only European selected for the final round of the “Thelonious Monk Jazz Guitar Competition” in Washington by Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Since then, Torsten Goods has embarked on extensive concert tours throughout Europe, Asia, and the USA, collaborating with figures like Bob James, Chris Potter, James Genus, Terri Lyne Carrington, Barbara Tucker, Dawn Tallman, Marcus Fugate, Jimmy Bruno, John Ruocco, Johannes Faber, Leszek Zadlo, and Patrick Scales.

In 2006, Goods became an exclusive ACT artist, and his ACT debut “Irish Heart” (ACT 9714-2), in which he musically incorporated his Irish roots, marked a significant breakthrough – not only with a wider audience but especially as a vocalist. Goods possesses not only virtuoso guitar skills but also an incredibly sensitive and expressive voice that feels at home in blues as well as swing and pop. The Irish Heart tour took him all across Germany and earned him invitations to major festivals like the Paris Jazz Festival, Jazz Baltica, Leverkusener Jazztage, Jazzwochen Burghausen, JazzKaar Estonia, Pure Jazz Festival Den Haag, Traumzeit Festival, and competitions including Brussels, London International Jazz Competition, Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition, and European Guitar Award in Dresden.

With his second ACT album “1980” (ACT 9719-2), Goods significantly expands his repertoire once again. Through adaptations of standout artists from 1980 and successful original compositions, he now walks in the footsteps of great jazz guitarists and vocalists like Al Jarreau and Michael Bublé.

After two years of intensive compositional work in London and Berlin, Goods released his highly anticipated fifth album “Love Comes To Town” under ACT in June 2013. The album was produced by none other than funk mastermind Nils Landgren, and the guest appearances on his new tracks read like a who’s who of the contemporary jazz scene: Nils Landgren, Till Brönner, Wolfgang Haffner, Magnus Lindgren, Ida Sand, and Victoria Tolstoy are featured on the record! Torsten Goods represents a blend of Jamie Cullum, George Benson, and John Mayer with his own character and style!

The album entered the German Media Control Jazz Charts directly at number 4. Since autumn 2012, Goods has been teaching at the University of the Arts Berlin at the Jazz Institute Berlin, specializing in jazz guitar. In 2013, Torsten was also awarded the German Music Authors’ Prize by GEMA in the jazz category, and in 2014, he received the Cultural Promotion Award from his hometown, Erlangen.