In 1981, he hooked up with Latin artists Hansel Raul and moved to Miami. Torres was immediately accepted into the city's vibrant salsa scene, and he spent much of his time lecturing and performing on the college circuit in South Florida, as well as performing regularly at festivals and clubs in and around Miami. In 1989, Torres signed a multi-album contract with Polygram Records and released his first album for Verve/Forecast, Morning Ride. It climbed to the top of the contemporary jazz charts to become a Top Ten best-seller. Later that year, he had an accident in a celebrity boat race in Miami, crushing his upper body and damaging his powerful lungs. Then 34, he began a long recovery process before releasing Dance of the Phoenix in August 1991, finding strength by practicing Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism and serving as a member of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI). Dance of the Phoenix was an exotic mix of styles that took the listener through American, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban jazz. In 1994, Torres recorded Burning Whispers for Sony Latin Jazz, a newly formed label; albums like 1996's Talk to Me and 1999's Treasures of the Heart followed, with the latter recorded for Shanachie.
This Side of Paradise appeared in early 2001, followed a year later by Mi Alma Latina: My Latin Soul, which found Torres digging deep into classics by Tito Puente, Willie Bobo, Abel Pabon, and others. He delivered even more diverse offerings with 2004's hip-hop-accented Sin Palabras (Without Words) and 2006's ethnic fusion-leaning Dances, Prayers and Meditations for Peace. Three years later he delivered the sophisticated, Latin dance-oriented Nouveau Latino. From there, he kept busy appearing on albums by Dave Grusin, Ali Ryerson, and Keb' Mo'. In 2017, he returned with Jazz Flute Traditions and Del Caribe, Soy! Latin American Flute Music, his first album of classical music. ~ Richard Skelly, Rovi