A Fiesta of Music (Sunday People)

First published in New Straits Times, Sunday People on
29 September 2007

A Fiesta of Music

by Max Koh

Torres wooing the Kuala Lumpur crowd.


THE audience at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in KLCC felt the heat when flautist Nestor Torres performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra recently.

From Latin jazz standards such as Besame Mucho and El Cumbanchero to original compositions from his album, Dances, Prayers And Meditation For Peace, Torres impressed everyone with his virtuosity.

He was accompanied by an ensemble of percussionists, armed with congas, bongos, timbales, and cowbells.

The MPO musicians were also togged for the occasion, ditching the usual black outfits for Latin garb. The male musicians boasted shirts with Hawaiian prints and sunglasses while the female players came in beautiful dresses and wore stilettos.

Portuguese-American Jacomo Bairos was the guest conductor that night billed, Latin Jazz Fiesta. With his flowery hand gestures and jerky body movements, he was fun to watch as well.

But the star was undoubtedly Torres who drew standing ovations for his solos including for Let There Be Light, an uplifting song that offered a glimpse of hope that “when we battle our own demons, like those who bring light after the storm, we shall prevail.”

It began with a marching beat before erupting into a symphony of Latin beats, lush strings and an impressive flute solo.

In 2001, Torres won the Latin Grammy in Pop Instrumental for his album, This Side Of Paradise. While this is usually a milestone in one’s music career, the win proved to be bittersweet as the award night fell on Sept 11.

“I remember the awards show in Los Angeles was cancelled due to the bombing of the World Trade Centre,” said Torres in an interview that afternoon at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

“Even though I had won the Grammy, it did not feel good in light of the evil that day.

“That’s when I decided to go to New York to meditate and play my flute in various houses of worship.

“I wanted to be a conduit for whatever energy that was present in New York that time, and channel it into music that will inspire, empower, and revitalise the people.”

Torres played in St Peter’s Church, which is just around the corner of Ground Zero, the Congregational Darech Amuno Synagogue, the Community City Church of New York, and the Soka Gakkai International-USA Buddhist Culture Centre.

Out of the ashes of the 9/11 tragedy came the songs for his 2006 album, Dances, Prayers And Meditation For Peace.

Befittingly then, when Torres played the songs from his recent album, the mood was meditative.

The night turned really sentimental when Torres performed Over The Rainbow. “I am really impressed by Malaysia, a nation which is relatively young but is yet rich with so much experience,” Torres said before he took up his flute.

“It is this marriage of experience and vigour that will surely bless this nation for years to come. I am honoured to be here with you during this season of celebration.”

We left DFP with smiles.