Millo Torres y El Tercer Planeta: Masa Con Masa

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2007 by Rudy Mangual

MILLO TORRES Y EL TERCER PLANETA Masa Con Masa (Pimpking Music)

Masa Con Masa, the fifth and most recent release from Puerto Rican rockers Millo Torres y El Tercer Planeta, continues the group's mission of fusing elements of Latin rock with reggae, ska, jazz, and the traditional rhythms of Borinquen. Led by guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/composer/arranger Millo Torres, El Tercer Planeta (The Third Planet) was established in 1994, after he returned to Puerto Rico, upon completing his music studies at the famous Berkelee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Influenced first of all by all the typical rhythms of his island, as well as of the entire Caribbean, Torres claims: "In my compositions, there's a lot of reggae influences, as well as jazz and rock, but most importantly there's always lots of salsa as well." The remaining bandmembers are Indrani Fuentes (background vocats), Víctor Román (sax), Adolfo "Fito Bass" González (bass), Josué Parrilla (Hammond B3, piano, keyboards), and Rigo Collazo (drums, vibes and percussion). Guest artists include Giovanni Hidalgo (percussion), Anthony Carrillo (timbal), Eric Figueroa (piano), William Muñoz (trumpet), Toñito Vásquez (trombone), and Jesús Caunedo (clarinet). Favorite tracks include Me Gustas Como Quieras, Tum Blues, Amor y Desafio, Quién Eres Tú, and Masa Con Masa. (RM)