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Jazz Caliente: Danilo Pérez, Panama's contribution to global jazz, comes to Tacoma

Pianist, educator and social activist Danilo Pérez
photo courtesy of the artist
/
Mack Avenue Records/Danilo Pérez
Pianist, educator and social activist Danilo Pérez"

The prolific pianist, educator and social activist Danilo Pérez will be appearing with the University of Puget Sound Jazz Orchestra on Friday, April 5.

Panama has much the same mix of cultural influences as South America, Mexico, Cuba and the island nations of the Caribbean. Danilo Pérez specializes in "Pan-American" music from North, Central and South Americas; folkloric music and world music, guided by his love of jazz.

Pérez definitely has the jazz and Pan-American credentials. After studying European classical piano at the National Conservatory in Panama, he moved on to study jazz composition at Berklee College of Music. In 1989, he was the youngest member of Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra and he went on to perform with all the jazz masters: Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Wynton Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Gary Burton and Roy Haynes. 

Danilo's been focusing on his own ensembles and projects since about 1993. "Children of the Light" features drummer Brian Blade and bassist John Pattitucci, who also are his bandmates in the Grammy-winning Wayne Shorter Quartet. "Panamonk" is his Thelonious Monk tribute with bassist Ben Street and drummer Adam Cruz.

When he's not touring or recording, he's doing work related to his appointments as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, a cultural ambassador to the Republic of Panama, founder and artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and the artistic director of the Panama Jazz Festival. He also runs a foundation in Panama for young people to develop their full potential through music education and music therapy, and he's won awards for his social work throughout Latin America. 

Danilo does all of this with a brilliant smile and a bright, positive outlook.  He lives to share the joy of music.

Get to know Danilo Pérez with this great video from NPR's Jazz Night In America, and get your tickets soon for his concert with the University of Puget Sound Jazz Orchestrain Tacoma on April 5. 

Listen for Danilo's version of John Coltrane's "Impressions" this week on Saturday's Jazz Caliente.

https://youtu.be/p69AU4Ot0LE

Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5 p.m.  The show is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.

Originally from Detroit, Robin Lloyd has been presenting jazz, blues and Latin jazz on public radio for nearly 40 years. She's a member of the Jazz Education Network and the Jazz Journalists Association.