Amsterdam Magic

Since settling in Amsterdam more than a decade ago, pianist and composer Xavi Torres has become deeply intertwined with the city’s jazz community. Amsterdam Magic is both a personal reflection and a musical tribute: an album shaped by long-standing collaborations with some of the most distinctive voices in the Dutch Jazz scene— musicians who have played a decisive role in Torres’ artistic development.

At the core of Amsterdam Magic lies the duo format. Each of the eleven compositions was written specifically for one collaborator, resulting in intimate musical portraits that highlight individuality, sound, and musical character. Torres remains at the piano throughout the album, while the instrumentation shifts from piece to piece—saxophone, guitar, voice, violin, bass, and drums—allowing each encounter to unfold with its own color, texture, and emotional weight.

Rather than aiming for stylistic uniformity, Amsterdam Magic embraces contrast and openness. Composed material flows naturally into improvisation; lyricism and rhythmic drive coexist with space, silence, and subtlety. What unites the album is a shared commitment to deep listening and musical conversation, where interaction takes precedence over virtuosity for its own sake.

The musicians featured on Amsterdam Magic represent a cross-section of the Amsterdam Jazz landscape: Ben van Gelder, Tineke Postma, Jasper Blom, Jesse van Ruller, Reinier Baas, Harmen Fraanje, Clemens van der Feen, Joris Roelofs, Fuensanta, Jamie Peet, and Julia Philippens. Each brings a highly personal voice, while collectively embodying the openness, curiosity, and artistic rigor for which the scene is internationally admired.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jared Sacks in Herwijnen, the album captures the full dynamic range and intimacy of these musical dialogues.

Xavi Torres, Piano

Musical Guests Ben van Gelder - (Track 1) Reinier Baas - (Track 2) Tineke Postma - (Track 3) Fuensanta - (Track 4) Jamie Peet - (Track 5) Julia Philippens - (Track 6) Jasper Blom - (Track 7) Jesse van Ruller - (Track 8) Harmen Fraanje - (Track 9) Joris Roelofs - (Track 10) Clemens van der Feen - (Track 11)