Al Torre

Al Torre feels music was more than part of his life, it was the driving force behind it, like love and passion.  He played drums at an early age and was a key part of the careers of jazz greats, Cal Tjader and Vince Guaraldi.  Al joined the Cal Tjader Quartet and recorded the album, Jazz At The Blackhawk, in 1957.  The album was a showcase for the unique talents of each musician in the group, which also included Gene Wright.  Cal and Vince went on to have iconic careers in jazz, although both passed away at young ages (Cal was 56 and Vince was 47).  Al decided to get off the road to focus on his marriage and family, while all the time continuing to play drums whenever he could.  He shared his great stories for the NAMM Oral History project in 2014.