Welcome to MTPockets.org
Home of Mike Torres & MTpockets
finalist in the NY&NJ Blues Society's Battle of the Bands for the 2005 International Blues Challenge.
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We are pleased to announce our Myspace site, http://www.myspace.com/miketorresmtpockets
Where you can get the most current gig info, directions, venue links; listen and download our music, including new releases as they are finished, enjoy! Just Click MTpockets Music above for the link!
What Michael Lydon, of Rolling Stone & Biographer of
Ray Charles, has to say of Michael Torres:
"Mike Torres and his band MT Pockets play a burning brand of blues, entertaining and intensely soulful. Torres is a superb guitarist, his solos wiry and dynamic, and he's a singer who knows how to reach the people. Plus Torres is one hell of a songwriter, his lyrics sharp, hip, and full of down-to-earth insights into the facts of life and love. Torres' deep experience comes out in his show pacing: quick tunes balance slow tunes, high volume rave-ups balance quiet intimacies. In the tri-state's lively blues scene, Mike Torres and MT Pockets are a band to catch!"
-September 2004
Michael Lydon is a founding editor of Rolling Stone and author of "Ray Charles: Man and Music, the definitive biography of the Genius)"
Mike "MTPockets" Torres, New York guitarist with over 37 years of stage experience, has resurfaced to become one of the most dynamic and inspiring performers on the NY jazz/blues circuit today.
Torres mixes his blues roots, rock chops, and funky jazz venucular and improvisational skills, and through the vehicle of his compositions, he creates his own brand of music.
Best served Hot n' Live!
After only 18 months from his return to the New York music scence, Mike Torres and MTPockets (by invitation of the New York & New Jersey Blues Society) competed in the International Blues Challege 2005. Close competition, they placed second of the five top blues band of the tri-state area.
His current CD, MANHATTAN ISLAND MAGIC shows some of the many musical faces of Mike Torres: funky jazz, gritty electric blues and rippin' rock guitar, all blended in a new, strangely invigorating way.
I'm Mike Torres, one of the many working guitar players in the NYC area.
Here's a picture of a sleepy me, amidst a group of old friends with whom I've worked since '69!
Here's a list of the guitars in this photo;
1948 Martin 0-15
1960 Gibson ES-150
1965 Fender Stratocaster burgundy mist metallic
(Moneymaker)
1988 Fender Stratocaster black
1980 Gibson Les Paul XR-2
1970s Aria Pro II arch top
1998 Epiphone Chet Atkins Classical
1980s Kramer Ferrington
1984 Custom built Les Paul style in cherry & rosewood
other guitars not shown:
1976 Fender Telecaster Custom black
1998 Fender Roland Stratocaster sunburst
2000 Martin 00016RTGE
2000 Dan Electro Baritone
2001 Fender Jazz Bass 5 string active EQ red
2001 Epiphone Blues Zephyr Deluxe
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MTPockets funk & R&B with a jazz attitude
check us out at these upcoming gigs:
thank you for supporting live music and the performance arts!
MTpockets is:
Mike Torres- guitars and vocals
John Adams- keys and vocals
Eric 'Lollipop' King- bass and vocals
Rafael de los Reyes - Druns
Nov 3rd, 10th 17th 24th - Fridays 7pm
Mike Torres SOLO @
the Sterling Inn
1279 North Ave.
New Rochelle, NY 10804
www.thesterlinginnrestaurant.com
914.636.2400
November - Sundays 8pm
Singer/Songwriter Set @
Scotland Yard
72 Hudson St.
201.222.9273
www.scotlandyardbar.com
time to hear from
the crew of songwriters
who show their craft,
performing original and cover tunes SOLO
Nov. 8th - Wednesday 9:30pm
Mike Torres & MTpockets @
Scotland Yard
72 Hudson St.
Hoboken, NJ
201.222.9273
www.scotlandyardbar.com
We'll be performing the tracks from the CD
(and our new tunes) at all our gigs!
We are in post production and
there will be a NEW CD
from me and the boys available soon.
Yay!!
The Yard is one of my favorite places
to see music and perform in.
There's a ton of great musicians performing there like:
Christine Santelli, Arthur Neilson, Dave Gross,
Jason Green, Slam Allen; Big Ed Sullivan;
Sly Geralds and many more!
If you like guitar, you'll LOVE the Yard. MT
C U
Mike "MTpockets" Torres
http://www.mtpockets.org
Check THIS out!!
Sunday Evenings @ Scotland Yard
the Singer/Songwriter Open Sessions
beginning 11:30pm
You'll hear original acoustic solo material from several
artist including myself,
Christine Santelli, Michael Frenzly, and VD King.
This is a different and unique musical situation;
I love attending!
Please don't forget!
Big Ed Sullivan Blues Jams
I attend almost religiously
Mondays at Scotland Yard 9:30pm
Hoboken, NJ
Anyone wishing contact us for guitar lessons,gigs or concerts should use the email link below
Thank you
Mike "MTpockets" Torres
Our CD sampler of five tracks from our Manhattan Island Magic CD is available now. You can pick one up at our gigs.
We have some very talented musicians and friends performing with us.
Here's some of our friends whom you may see on stage with us:
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Darcy Macrae - drums
Kenny Soule - drums
Rafael De Los Reyes - drums
Fred Weidenhamer - bass
Eric "Lollipop" King - bass
John "J.A." Adams - keyboards
Darryll Johnson - keysboards
Dave Keyes - keyboards
Rob Chasman - saxes
Here Mike's bio so you know a little more about him:
Mike Torres has played with a wide range of musicians; elements of pop music history from the Blues Project, and Fabulous Rhinstones,
to such jazz greats as Melvin Sparks, Lenny White, and Gato Barbieri.
Whether it's a cool jazz quartet, contemporary R&B rhythm section, or a smoking Latin/jazz ensemble; large or intimate gathering;
the melodic strength of Torres' music always comes through.
He's been a featured blues artist appearing at Nell's in NYC with the Melvin Sparks Blues Band.
His year and a half stint with blues diva and Monad recording artist Roxy Perry, resulted in many engagements at the legendary Dan Lynch's,
also Le BarBat and Manny's Car Wash culminating in co-writing a song and appearing on her nationally released album in 1995.
Currently finishing his CD, he still performs forty weeks out of the year
and is able to move people with his voice, guitar and the musicianship which has always typified the Mike Torres style.
Mike Torres has worked with a wide range of musicians and corporations, a few examples of:
Cornelius Bumpus (Donald Fagan, Dooby Bros.)
Clint Deganon (Michael Franks, Bob James)
Ray Santos (four time grammy winner) and his orchestra
Stanley Banks
Sweet Georgia Brown
Dave Keyes
Jerry Jermont
Gato Barbieri
Phil Young Experience: Avery Fisher Music Hall
Dan Kalb (Blues Project) and brother Jon
Harvey Brooks (Fabulous Rhinestones, Doors)
Lester Chambers
Chris Carter
Lenny White
Eddie Martinez
Hillary Schimdt CBS recording artist
Nikki Armstrong
Roxy Perry
Brian Carter Trio & Quartet
Gabriel Foundation with ABC actor Kamar de los Reyes
Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition @ the New York Sock Exchange.
IBM: Javits Center,NYC Comdex, Las Vegas,Nev. Ritz Carlton, Aspen,Co.
Phiser: CNE Toronto Canada
Discography:
Gary Bonner: as guitarist on Atlantic Records session on national release (Atlantic ST-A-30734 SP)
"Misty Sun" produced by Bob Ezrin Gary Bonner wrote some of the Turtles' hit records
Tymes RCA: as writer of "I Can't Explain" which was recorded and appeared on album
Digging THeir Roots RCAAPL12406
Melvin Sparks: as writer of "Get Back to The Blues"
song for his first independent album
Billy Reed: as guitarist on Billy Reed and the Street People single
"Les Le Bon Ton Roulette"
Roxy Perry: Monad Records recording artist;
co-wrote song "Name It and Claim It" on nationally
released 1995 album High Heel Blues and performed
on half the album.
George McCrae : as guitarist on Castle Mountain Music,
Ltd. album "America Red White & Blue" 2002.
Artist and Co-Producer George McCrae
Here's a few bios of the musicians we work with:
Eric "Lollipop" King, is a Brooklyn resident and a
veteran of the NY music scene for years. Eric has
played with Blues man Bill Perry, and such R&B artists
as Maxine Brown and Anglea Bofill
John Adams, a consistant participant in the New York music scene and was JT Taylor's (the Voice of Kool & the Gang) musicial director, as well as, musical director for Showtime in Harlem on Fox with his group the Adams Syndicate.
He brings to our stage all his years of experience
as a world class musician.
Darcy Macrae, check his site for his detail bio & info.
Darcy Macrae WebsiteWe miss you, Cornelius we're proud to have known you and to have shared the gift of your talent.
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