[2] In the spring of 1967 he joined the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna (OCMM), a large jazz ensemble directed by Armando Romeu.
The latter two emigrated from Cuba to the United States in the 1980s, and Torres followed suit in 1992, when he decided to stay in Spain with his wife, Elsa, after the Zaragoza Conservatory offered them a teaching contract.
During this time he continued to record and release solo albums, while also playing as a session musician with Bebo Valdés, Paquito D'Rivera, Juan Manuel Ceruto, and others.
[2] In 2002, the album Cuban Masters by Los Originales featuring Juan Pablo Torres was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album at the 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, but lost to El Arte del Sabor by Bebo Valdés, Cachao and Carlos "Patato" Valdés.
The following year it was nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album along with Generoso qué bueno toca usted, but lost again to El Arte del Sabor.