Crystal Torres

Whether it's traditional Jazz or sounds flowing from her Latin roots, Crystal Torres provides her audiences with a genuine musical experience.

The multi-talented musician/composer combines traditional Jazz with elements of Latin music, Funk, and R&B creating an eclectic sound that is all her own. Interpreting melodies on her trumpet with warmth and grace, Crystal reminds us that the trumpet also has a sweet side. Equally as sweet, her voice captivates audience's deepest emotions with soulful phrasing laced with fiery improvisations.

Born in Philadelphia, Crystal has been entertaining audiences throughout the Tri-State area since 1999 when she was featured at the NAACP Jazz Festival in Bucks County. As a high school student her musical accomplishments also included being selected for the Merion Anderson Big Band, Mellon PSFS High School All-Stars, Mid Atlantic Grammy Band, The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, and numerous jazz workshop scholarships. Crystal furthered her studies when she joined the prestigious William Paterson University Jazz program with a full scholarship.

As a vocalist, Crystal was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts, to sing for their "Jazz and the New Generation" band, led by Dr. Billy Taylor. As a member of the group, she has performed for and lectured thousands of high school students throughout the county on the importance of Jazz music. In 2004, they were invited to perform for the President at the White House, in celebration of Black Music Month.

In 2004 Crystal was also featured at the FestiJazz in La Paz, Bolivia as the lead vocalist for the Latin Jazz group Ellas y Amigos. It was also in Bolivia that she debuted her first original composition, "Buscando La Paz." Combining soulful jazz melodies and the rhythms of her Latin heritage, "Buscando" captured the ears and imagination of the festival's sold out audiences. The overwhelming response proved her musical ideas have international appeal.

On the trumpet, Crystal is a member of "Terry's Young Titans of Jazz", a big band formed by Jazz Legend Clark Terry. The Titan's have been a featured act in Switzerland at the Berne Jazz Festival as well as the world renowned Jazz club, BIRDLAND, in New York City.

Aside from her work with "The New Generation", "Ellas", and "The Titans", Crystal has appeared with Benny Golson, Bill Goodwin, Rufus Reid, Domingo Quinones, Ray Barretto, Ray Vega, and Ricky Gonzalez. She even appears on as a guest vocalist on Ricky Gonzalez's 2004 album release "Oasis." Her talents have graced the stages of Zanzibar Blue (Philadelphia and Delaware), The Kimmel Center, The Mann Music Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Village Vangaurd, and Camdon's Jazz on the Waterfront series along with numerous other Tri-State area clubs and festivals.

Now a college graduate, experienced worldwide performer, and an accomplished trumpeter/vocalist, Crystal is looking forward to focusing on her career as a composer and solo artist. Bridging the gap between her Latin roots and Jazz experiences, she has a successful future ahead of her. Show less