Pablo Batista’s Latin Jazz Ensemble with Special Guest Nestor Torres

Pablo Batista, a graduate of Temple University class of 1985 has been a percussionist for over 31 years. In 2000, Pablo was a recipient of the distinguished Pew Fellowship Award in Folk Arts. He also toured and recorded with the late Grover Washington, Jr., from 1985 until Grover’s passing in 1999. Pablo has toured with such artist as Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, and is currently touring with the gospel superstar Kirk Franklin. He has taught percussion for the Latin American Music Association (AMLA) for over 15 years. Has performed and recorded with such artist as Jeffrey Osborne, Phyllis Hyman, George Howard, Diane Reeves, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, Eddie Palmieri, Manny Oquendo y Conjunto Libre, Philadelphia Orchestra, Musiq, Norman Brown, Gerald Veasley, and Regina Belle to name a few.

If a flute could talk and sing, it would certainly be in the voice of Nestor Torres, for he speaks through his instrument. Equally fluent in Jazz, Classical and Latin idioms, his fluid versatility sets him apart. Nestor’s total command of his instrument allows him a freedom of expression that is at once captivating and liberating, powerful and genuine.

Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nestor Torres has played music all his life. His parents (the father, a gifted musician himself, and mother, an educator and businesswoman) gave him a set of drums at age five and later took up the flute (at age 12). He moved to NYC with his family in his teenage years and went on to study at Mannes School of Music and later at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. At that time he was also able to learn to improvise in a style of Cuban Dance music called ‘Charanga’, which helped to shape and develop Nestor’s melodic and danceable sound.