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.

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 Wilkens, 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.

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.

Torsten Goods has performed with Les Paul, Bob James, Chris Potter, James Genus, Terry Lyne 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.