Torch lights up the club

"You are underground; nobody knows you're here," Torch's frontwoman Seela Misra said Thursday night at the Elephant Room. "Do whatever you want."

Once you've descended the steps into what some might call Austin's last refuge for jazz, it's easy to forget about the outside world. The Elephant Room is an escape frequented by some of the best local jazz musicians, whether on stage or in the audience. The dimly lit, subterranean club provided a perfect atmosphere for the members of Torch as they fused Latin and swing styles.

The performance featured a blend of jazz subgenres in songs like "Old Devil Moon," in which Chris Vestre contrasted bossa nova rhythms with fast-boppin' swing eighths. The band also covered "Caravan" by Duke Ellington, more commonly heard without lyrics. Alternating between powerful and airy timbre, Misra emphasized the song's exotic-sounding melody. Torch's arrangements were high in dynamic contrast, featuring moments when all but two instruments would drop out. The band began "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" with Misra singing and snapping along with the bass.

They also showcased several original compositions, such as "The Colder Months" from their 2007 album Crush (TCM and two additional songs are available at www.myspace.com/torchmusicpage). The song is at once playful and confessional, which fits Misra's live, intimate performance.

Torch has collaborated with several other renowned local musicians, including trumpet player Ephraim Owens and bassist Chris Maresh (the latter attended Thursday night's show).

In a city full of talented musicians, a few are jazz vocalists. It's fairly unexpected when a singer decides to deviate from the melody or lace her solos with instrumental-sounding intonations. Misra uses these techniques, plays with rhythms and follows behind the beat in a natural style reminiscent of Billie Holiday.

The majority of Torch's performances take place at the Elephant Room and Luna, a club in San Antonio. Playing the Elephant Room is not the type of gig Misra's agent recommends, she admitted during a break; musicians are certainly not drawn to the venue by a sizeable paycheck. With a Black - the only cigarette she smokes - between her fingers, Misra said, "Here, I get to play with who I want."

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