Gene Torres recording with ZYLIA

In this short interview our Brand Ambassador Gene Torres describes his experiences with ZYLIA microphone and provides insights on recording his gigs and live performances. 

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Zylia: Gene, this is our second interview. Last time we talk you were testing a prototype of ZYLIA mic (the first interview). Now you are the owner of your own ZYLIA ZM-1 mic. Do you like it?

Gene: Hello, nice to chat with you again!
ZM-1, as far as I’m concerned, is a game changer in terms of recording rehearsals & gigs. I do like it, the possibilities are endless.

Zylia: How do you use ZYLIA recording studio?

Gene: I mainly use it for gigs & rehearsals. Jorge Sylvester a sax player and composer wants me to record a solo bunch of tunes that he wants to release!
>>Jorge Sylvester web page

Matter of fact, he just did a performance based on Eric Dolphy’s music. If you scroll down the above link, you can hear some of the show.

Performance of Gene Torres, Jorge Sylvester and Nora McCarthy doing The Re-Imagining Eric Dolphy show. 

Zylia: What is so interesting for you in this system? Does it change the way you record your music?
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Gene: Yes, it has changed the way I record not just my music but all the gigs that I do!!
I think that very noticeable is the fact that recording set-up time was cut by at least 50 minutes, definitely less set-up time is required. Within 10 minutes I’m up and running. When I had my two 8-channel computer interfaces there was at least 16 input cables that had to be plugged in. Not any more!

Recorded live performance. Rhonda Denet and the Silver Fox Trio. Mixed Company.

Zylia: You play with many NY musicians, what is their opinion?

Gene: Once, just out of curiosity, I counted the number of groups I was going to work with, either 6 months back or 6 months forward to a specific date... I counted up to 30 groups/bands!
Their opinion is they freak out cause the ZM-1 has the either Red or Blue led ring around it  that glows, so they asked what the heck is that! :-) Once I explain what the ZM-1 is and what it does, they usually ask a million questions!!

Gene Torres, George Brandon & Kevin Nathaniel’s Afro Roots Tuesday’s

Gene Torres, Grace Garland and Robin Radus

Gene Torres, Andy Friedberg and Mike Campenni

Zylia: We are very happy that you decided to be our Ambassador and share with other musicians your knowledge and experiences using ZYLIA.

Gene: Once I received the ZM-1 I felt that the world of NYC needs to know what Zylia came out with and how good it is!!
 
Zylia: Do you have any plans for future? Any interesting gigs are coming?

Gene: I am going to record a solo recording of Saxophonist Jorge Sylvester when we both can work our schedules out!
 
I’m trying to finally release a CD as a band-leader. One of the things I want to record is a bunch of tunes with minimal direction but strictly improve. So the CD will have 1/3 originals, 1/3 covers but arranged, and 1/3 improve tunes!
Be on the lookout for it!

Gene Torres
Electric Bassist

Gene Torres, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Fort Greene, now residing in Bayridge. Picked up the bass at 15 years old and has not put it down since. Started out playing R&B (Motown, Stax, Atlantic, etc.) then moved on to funk (James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth, Wind, and Fire, etc). The 1st group 
that Gene played with was called Paranoid. Paranoid was awarded the 3rd best band in Brooklyn. At that time most of the bands had horns and we were no exception. 
Paranoid stayed together for about 6 years, which Gene was a part of for 5. After leaving, Gene started freelancing and getting exposed to many styles of music. The majority of musicians Gene was playing with was much older so they were like mentors to Gene. The 1st order was to learn Jazz, which at the time was like speaking another language. After many bumps and bruises along the way Jazz started to make sense. Still though, formal training needed to be had, so at that time Jazz Mobile was one option, another was Lynn Oliver’s. Still, a private lesson was another thing that had to be done so studying with Bob Willams, Ritchie Hart, Ken Hatfield, Charlie Banacos (correspondence course) and Paul Caputo and which he’s still studying with Paul up to this day...
Gene’s 1st major recording was playing on the James Mason, Rhythm of Life, album (1977). To this day it’s in the top 100 in England and it’s a collectors item. It started a whole music revolution (Acid Jazz) in England with Sade and a bunch of other english groups. Today, Gene at any given day can be playing from Hip\Hop to Bebop, with a little rock thrown in. Now not only playing bass, but writing, producing, music editing, sheet music(Finale), teaching privately and in a school. 
Some of the people Gene has had the pleasure of playing and or recording with runs the gamut of music styles, for example Ben E. King, Al Hibbler, Rahn Burton, Public Enemy,  Yousef Lateef,  Chico O’Farrel’s Afro\Cuban Big band at Birdland.  Ernie Marcelin of Taboo Combo, La Bamba, and the Hubcaps, Southside Johnny, Ted Curson – Blue Note \ Late Nite Jam Session, The Weather Girls, The Chiffons at The Apollo Theatre, Chambers Brothers, Jonathan Butler, Hannes DeKassian Trio, Moon Pool, Tony Cedras (Keyboardist with Paul Simon), Jennifer Holiday, Noo Voodoo,  Mark Pender (of the Conan O’Brian show, opening up for the BT Express). The Big Apple Circus, David Dorfman Dance Company, Fred Ho (Vampire Opera) Petey Pablo of Jive Records, Gucci Man (Me & You single), Danny Mixon, Ty Stephens,  Pee Wee Ellis, Co\winner of the 2010 McDonalds GospelFest  Childrens Choir Contest. 
Gene’s endorsements are: Walter Woods Amps, Harry Kolbe Soundsmith Speaker Cabinets, Overwater Basses

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