March 10 in Seattle: Album Pre-Release Party with TORCH

TORCH
Seattle-based quartet TORCH is poised to release their debut CD, TORCH in May 2018. TORCH comprises Brian Chin, trumpet; Eric Likkel, clarinets; Ben Thomas: vibes, bandóneon, and percussion; and Steve Schermer, bass.

Conservatory trained, and yet jazz informed, all members are improvisers and also write for the group. The group’s name is inspired by the Thomas Mann quote, “Art is the sacred torch that must shed its merciful light into all life’s terrible depths.

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, join TORCH and friends Juliet McMains (Choreographer), Scott Kolbo (Visual Artist), and students from the UW Department of Dance at the Alhadeff Studio Theater at Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center for a celebration of the upcoming self-titled album and the launch of TORCH as a program of Common Tone Arts, a non-profit organization committed to inspiring positive change for our diverse world through arts education and music.
This CD Pre-Release Party will take place at Alhadeff Studio Theater at Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, 201 Mercer St., 7:30 pm; Tickets $15 general / $10 students. Tickets are available online.

In 2012, the members of TORCH asked themselves, “What would it sound like if we created music that could exist as both intellectually rich and crafted with precision while maintaining a palpable groove without using a drummer?” The TORCH quartet was born, answering the question with series of self-composed, original programs of music.

Based in contemporary classical composition, modern tango, and jazz improvisation, TORCH bridges gaps between genres, re-imagines works from master composers of the 20th century, and demonstrates an indie-band model of self-composition as a contemporary chamber music ensemble.

TORCH’s self-titled first full-length album features the varied and vibrant sounds of their composer collective. As an advocate for collaboration, TORCH works with visual artists, dancers, and creatives of all types to inspire socially conscious art.

Physical and digital distribution for this self-released title is through CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and the album will also be available directly through TORCH. Produced by TORCH, the album was recorded on August 30-31, 2017, at Nickerson Studios, Seattle, WA.

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For more about TORCH, please visit torchthemusic.com