Torsten Goods

At 26, guitarist and vocalist Torsten Goods is one of the leading young jazz-musicians of the European Scene. With 3 albums to date as a leader including nominations for the "German Record Critics’ Award", Torsten was one of the 10 semi-finalists in the renowned "Thelonious Monk Guitar Competition" in Washington, DC as well as being in the finals of the International Jazz Competitions in Montreux, London, Brussels and Dresden, in both categories guitar and vocals. Add to this, countless concerts in Europe, the US and China and Torsten has achieved an impressive amount for a twenty-something.
His Irish mother’s record collection was a treasure trove for the young Torsten Goods, spending hours as he did listening to such jazz greats as Oscar Peterson and Duke Ellington. The 26 year-old Torsten was born in Düsseldorf to Irish / German parents, grew up in Erlangen, in Bavaria, and now lives in Berlin. After several years of piano lessons the young 14 year-old preferred the guitar sounds of Rock and Heavy Metal. His encounter, at 17, with the Australian jazz guitarist Peter O’Mara paved the way for his interest in jazz, however. This was followed by several years of intensive guitar lessons and workshops, among others with Jim Hall and John Scofield in New York. During this time he had the opportunity to play with the well-known guitarists Les Paul, Jack Wilkins, Mike Stern, Peter Bernstein, Howard Alden and Frank Vignola, at the same time learning a lot from them. The gypsy guitar virtuoso Bireli Lagrene then invited him to Strassburg and had a decisive influence on his musical development. In January 2000 Torsten was invited by Peter Herbholzheimer to join the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and in 2001 he produced his first CD “Manhattan Walls” with jazz greats such as Tony Lakatos, David Gazarov, Davide Petrocca, Dejan Terzic, Guido May, Jan Eschke Andreas Kurz and Rick Keller, released on Jardis Records 2002 - the press was full of praise.
In August 2001, at age 20, Goods gets a scholarship to study “Jazz and Contemporary Music” at the renowned New School University in NYC and it is there that he meets Seleno Clarke and George Benson, who has a decisive influence on him, inspiring him to sing as well. Back in Germany in 2003, Goods continued with his studies and working on his career.
He released his second CD “Steppin’”(October 2004) on Jazz4ever Records with greats Olaf Polziehn, Martin Gjakonovski, Dejan Terzic, Tony Lakatos, Johannes Enders and Lutz Häfner, as well as his working-band Jan Miserre, Marco Kühnl and Christoph Huber. Starting in 2005 this band has played over 80 shows up to today and recorded the latest album "Irish Heart", released in November 2006 on the renowned European Jazz label ACT music. Signing with ACT in 2006 opened many doors for Torsten like playing on festivals such as Jazz Baltica, International Theaterhaus Jazztage, Traumzeitfestival ao.
The "Irish Heart"-tour lead Torsten and his Band throughout the whole of Germany, and he was also invited to many international Jazz competitions in 05 and 06 such as the "Thelonious Monk Jazz Guitar Competition" in Washington, DC, where he was among the 10 semi-finalists, the only one to fly to the US out of Europe, and played in front of a jury consisting of George Benson, Pat Martino, John Pizzarelli, Russel Mallone, Earl Klugh, Stanley Jordan ao. In the London International Jazz Competition Torsten was the only European finalist. Other noteable competitions were in Brussels (Semi-finals), Montreux Jazz Guitar Competiton,(Semi-finals) and the European Guitar Award in Dresden, where he was also among the top ten.
His latest album “Irish Heart” has had rave reviews in Italy, France, the US and the UK, where the "Evening Standard" writes: "Goods has breakthrough talent galore. Inspired by George Benson, he sings winningly and plays the guitar superbly. His album might just kick-start major career developments for him this year.“
Torsten Goods has performed with Les Paul, Bob James, Chris Potter, James Genus, Terry Linn Carrington, Seleno Clark, Barbara Tucker, Dawn Tallman, Marcus Fugate, Jimmy Bruno, Tony Lakatos, David Gazarov, Peter Herbolzheimer, John Ruocco, Johannes Faber, Leszek Zadlo, Dejan Terzic, Rick Keller, Patrick Scales, Davide Petrocca, Johannes Enders, Guido May.
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