In an echo of the past, Rafael Toral unveils a new single, “Solitude,” from his upcoming album, Traveling Light (October 24th, Drag City). The track revisits the Duke Ellington standard, a piece that has long served as a canvas for improvisers from Thelonious Monk to Mary Halvorson. Yet, Toral’s interpretation channels the profound, almost sacred vulnerability of Billie Holiday’s classic take. The delicate tracing of the melody feels less like a performance and more like a quiet communion with the song’s own history.
This return to the guitar, a journey begun with last year’s lauded Spectral Evolution, continues to redefine what a jazz standard can be; a pioneer of his own “Space Program” of self-made electronics, Toral launches them into a new orbit. Traveling Light, made in tandem with its predecessor, acts as a nexus, a point where the echoes of jazz’s past meet the unfurling sounds of a distant future. It’s a testament to his singular vision.
Pre-save/Pre-order Traveling Light: https://rafaeltoral.lnk.to/travelinglight
Starting next month, Rafael Toral will tour across Europe and the UK (including Cafe OTO), premiering his new music in Venice, Italy, at La Biennale di Venezia 2025. Tickets are on sale now.
Rafael Toral Performances 2025/26
Oct. 11th – Venice, Italy @ La Biennale di Venezia
Oct. 18th – Coimbra, Portugal @ Jazz Ao Centro Clube
Oct. 24th – Braga, Portugal @ Theatro Circo
Oct. 31st – Barcelona, Spain @ Casa Montjuïc
Nov. 1st – Madrid, Spain @ Bcosof
Nov. 12th – Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK @ Star and Shadow
Nov. 14th – Manchester, UK @ Hallé St Peter’s
Nov. 15th – Bristol, UK @ Strange Brew
Nov. 16th – London, UK @ Cafe OTO
Nov. 28th – Florence, Italy @ Centro Pecci
Jan. 21st- Lisbon, Portugal @ Culturgest