Omar Torrez, Seattle born composer, vocalist and guitar virtuoso creates a highly original style of music he calls Flamenco Soul & Groove. This style reflects his European-Mexican roots and adventurous spirit, a passionate blend of infectious rhythms reminiscent of modern music masters like Stevie Wonder with echoes of Paco De Lucia's guitar.

"Omar Torrez is crossing many borders and establishing many unlikely links - between classical and pop, virtuoso and hot swinging, Latin and blues, European and American, sexy and pure... and doing all this with style," said world-renowned music critic, Artemy Troitsky. The Seattle Times posed the question, "Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix?" The musical critic, Tom Scanlon, added: "The fastest fingers in the West, a massive talent poised to break out and kiss the sky." He radiates fiery passion, drawing in the musicians and the audience and connecting with them on the deepest spiritual and sensual levels.

Omar burst onto the Seattle music scene in 1995 as a finalist in the National Jimi Hendrix Gibson Guitar Competition. A then unknown Omar took the stage with a borrowed guitar and brought a packed Seattle Opera house crowd to its feet with his guitar pyrotechnics. He then studied under well-known Flamenco guitar master, Juan Serrano, whose art injected masterful techniques and authentic rhythms into his music. Since then, the artist has been winning fans up and down the West coast and most recently, in Europe.

After seeing Omar's performance in March of 2000, Fender Musical Instruments signed him to an exclusive endorsement contract and called him "the company's most exciting rising star." Omar and Sting were the first two artists chosen to debut the innovative Guild Paloma electric/classical guitar. At this year's winter NAMM show, the artist received prestigious Manuel Rodriguez guitar and L.R. Baggs endorsements.

Omar was voted one of Seattle's Best Bands by the Seattle Weekly Reader's Poll in three consecutive years. He has been playing to capacity crowds at the Bumbershoot festival, the Showbox, and the Tractor Tavern in Seattle; the Portland Art Museum and Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon; and Whiskey A GO GO, the Conga Room, and The Temple Bar in Los Angeles. His recent success performing solo at ultra-hip Moscow nightclubs and Moscow State University has spurred European record contract offers. The artist has performed with renowned acts ranging from Buena Vista Social Club, Pancho Sanchez, Susana Baca to B-side Players and Kenny Wayne Sheppard.

Omar recently released his newest record entitled "La Danza en mi Corazon." "La Danza" is his second independent release. To find out moreabout the artist, please visit www.omartorrez.com