It has been nearly 10 years since the young man from Seattle took the stage at the Seattle Opera house with a borrowed guitar and thrilled the audience as a winner in the National Jimi Hendrix guitar competition at the prestigious Bumbershoot festival. What did Omar Torrez do after this great moment of musical notoriety? He went on a sabbatical from Rock, Blues and American music to pursue the music of the Andalusian gypsies and the music of Cuba. Studying with Cuban and Spanish musical masters he became a powerful classical and Flamenco guitarist and musician. He then went to study cultural anthropology and became an educator helping disadvantaged youth. Yet this spiritual/musical quest was leading the artist back towards "home". It was during this journey of discovery that the artist had an epiphany... he fell back in love with the fuzz guitar and those vintage rare grooves of his childhood. This young Blues, Funk and Rock guitar virtuoso came back from the gypsy caravan and is again sharing his luscious electric and acoustic guitar work, radiant songs and rare grooves nourished by his intense musical and spiritual journey, a journey into the soul. Three international tours and thousands devoted fans later his star is continuing to shine brighter each day. He has shared the stage with such musical giants as Buena Vista Social Club, Pancho Sanchez, Susana Baca and Francisco Aguabella as well as underground favorites like Indigenous, B-side Players and Sidestepper. "Omar Torrez is crossing many borders and establishing many unlikely links”between classical and pop, virtuoso and hot swinging, Latin and blues, European and American, sexy and pure... and doing all this with style," said world-renowned Russian music critic Artemy Troitsky, of the World Music Consortium. "Omar Torrez sounds like a Gypsy King channeled through Hendrix," noted Gene Stout, music critic at the Seattle Post Intelligencer. "Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix? The fastest fingers in the West, a massive talent poised to break out and kiss the sky," added Tom Scanlon, The Seattle Times music critic. After seeing Omar perform in 2000, Fender Musical Instruments signed him to an exclusive endorsement contract, calling him "the company's most exciting rising star." Omar and Sting were the first two artists chosen to debut the innovative Guild Paloma electric/classical guitar. Omar also received prestigious Manuel Rodriguez guitar and L.R. Baggs endorsements. The artist has played to capacity crowds at various international festivals, and in prime venues in the U.S. In summer 2004 Omar completed a successful Russian tour where he and his band played numerous shows to packed houses -- and where two of his records "La Danza en mi Corazon" and "Dynamisto" were released on the Russian major label Soyuz Music. Omar and his band are currently recording an album and getting ready for the summer tour in Russia and the Republic of Georgia.

ABC Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin ALMA DE MI CORAZON Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin BEGINNING Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Novelty & Instrumental BONE Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin BRIGHT STAR Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Singer Songwriter CRYING WOMAN Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin DOG HEART Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin DON'T LET GO Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Singer Songwriter ESSENCE Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin ETUDE Omar Torrez Written by Omar Torrez (BMI); Published by El Popo Music (BMI) & Engine Co 30 (BMI) Latin Page 1 2 3