Miami, FL – May 2017… With a musical career that spans over 25 years and includes 14 CD releases, 4 Latin Grammy® nominations, 1 Latin Grammy Award, plus a Grammy nomination, flautist Nestor Torres is a musical icon among the jazz community. Well-known for his melodic and rhythmical flute sound, Torres has collaborated with numerous high profile artists, including Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Ricky Martin, Dave Mathews, and Gloria Estefan to name but a few. Whether he’s involved in a studio project or a live performance, the ability to capture his instrument’s sound with the highest level of detail and accuracy is a crucial consideration. This is precisely why he relies on the ISOMAX 2 Instrument and I2 Flute microphones from Menlo Park, CA-based Countryman Associates.
Torres reports he has been an avid Countryman microphone enthusiast for many years. While most of his time has been spent with the Countryman ISOMAX 2 Instrument microphone, he recently added the Countryman I2 Flute mic to his arsenal. “I have four ISOMAX 2’s,” he says. “Two of these are hard wired while the other two are configured for use with Shure and Sennheiser wireless systems. While the bulk of my experience is with the ISOMAX 2, I’m finding the I2 is another invaluable addition to my arsenal. Both mics provide me freedom of movement without sacrificing sound quality, which is indispensable for my live performances.”
Torres’ primary instrument is the C flute and, when miking his instrument, he uses the Countryman ISOMAX 2 and I2 flute clips for positioning the microphones on the headjoint to the left of the mouthpiece. “These two microphones and their mounting clips enable me to capture the true sound of my instrument better than any other microphone I’ve ever tried,” Torres explained. “The Countryman mics provide an incredibly open and natural sound quality. The sound is clear, articulate, and true to the instrument. I use these mics for both live and studio work. As far as which mic I select, I typically try them both to determine which mic works best for the nature of the performance and then choose accordingly.”
Reflecting on one particularly memorable experience with his Countryman mics, he recalled an encounter with the recording engineer on his 1990 album Dance of the Phoenix on the Verve Forecast label. “I remember the recording engineer was at a loss as to what microphone he could use that would capture my sound best,” Torres recalls. “I mentioned that I used the Countryman ISOMAX 2 for my live performances and loved the sound of it. He then decided to try the mic for the recording and that’s what we used for the entire record!”
As a long-time user of Countryman microphones, Torres adds that he has always been impressed with the customer and technical support services the company provides. “Rosa Pimentel, Countryman’s General Manager, is absolutely delightful,” he said. “She is extremely knowledgeable and is always ready, willing, and able to assist in any way, shape, or form. There is no doubt in my mind that the team at Countryman Associates are the best at what they do.”
Before turning his attention back to his musical endeavors, Torres offered these parting thoughts, “I just finished recording a new live CD titled Jazz Flute Traditions and I used the I2 Flute microphone extensively. The engineers were truly amazed by the way the microphone captured my flute sound and how well it isolated other nearby sounds. Both the ISOMAX 2 and the I2 Flute microphones deliver the sound quality and reliability I know I can count on. As a performer, these mics are a source of relief and they provide true peace of mind. The fact that these two wonderful microphones deliver consistent, dependable performance of the highest quality is something I never lose sight of. Thank you, Countryman Associates!”
To learn more about Nestor Torres, visit his website at www.nestortorres.com.
About Countryman Associates
For more than 30 years, Countryman has focused on developing microphones and accessories that deliver maximum gain before feedback, with the highest possible rejection of wind, vibration, interference, and other unwanted sounds. The result is warm, clear vocals in speaking and singing applications, delivering natural audio reinforcement that requires almost no attention from the sound engineer or the performer. For additional information about Countryman Associates, visit the company online at www.countryman.com.
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Photo Information: Nestor Torres
