Danilo Pérez
PROJECTS:
DANILO PÉREZ, JOHN PATITUCCI, ADAM CRUZ TRIO
As a solo artist and as a collaborator with jazz giants from Dizzy Gillespie to Wayne Shorter, for over three decades Grammy-Award Winning Panamanian Pianist-Composer Danilo Pérez has been lauded as one of the most creative forces in contemporary music. With Jazz as the anchoring foundation, Pérez’s Global Jazz music is a blend of Panamanian roots, Latin American folk music, West African rhythms, European impressionism – promoting music as a borderless and multidimensional bridge between all people. Since 1993 Pérez has released twelve albums which have earned him critical acclaim, and numerous accolades around the world. He is a recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award in 2021, the United States Fellowship 2018, and the 2009 Smithsonian Legacy Award.
For nearly two decades, Pérez performed alongside bassist John Patitucci as the pianist and key collaborator of the Wayne Shorter Quartet. The quartet became known for an almost telepathic way of communicating musically, winning the Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy Award in 2019 for Blue Note Records release, EMANON. Patitucci first came to worldwide acclaim in the mid-1980s, when his work with Chick Corea helped put him at the forefront of the jazz world. Patitucci has recorded and performed throughout the world with his own band and with countless jazz luminaries, pop, and classical artists.
Drummer, composer, and educator Adam Cruz was born in New York City and has been a vital creative force on the international jazz scene. He leads his own group, is an integral part of renowned pianist Danilo Pérez’s trio, and regularly works with artists such as Tom Harrell, The Mingus Big Band, Joey Calderazzo, Chris Potter, Steve Wilson and Edward Simon. Adam currently teaches at CCNY and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.
LEGACY OF WAYNE SHORTER
Among the most intensely admired composers in jazz, Wayne Shorter is a true legend whose career stretched over half a century. The golden era of this saxophonist’s extraordinary musical journey was marked by the formation of his quartet with Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade, who went forth to confound all preconceptions of jazz in a prolific 24-years of concerts and Grammy Award winning recordings. Shorter’s great musical legacy lives on through this kindred trio, as they take to Zero Gravity – a shared fearlessness espoused by their mentor and Zen guru.
FOR NORTH AMERICA: Frequently hailed as one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation, Mark Turner rounds out this inspired exploration of the unknown.
FOR EUROPE MARCH 2025: Critically acclaimed Grammy nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, Ravi Coltrane rounds out this inspired exploration of the unknown - following a hugely successful series of concerts celebrating the symphonic works of Shorter.
Performing their own interpretations of Shorter’s compositions, this quartet seeks to honor his pivotal contributions to jazz.
GLOBAL MESSENGERS
Change and uncertainty in the social landscape can create misconception and cause division. Music can serve as a natural remedy to unfortunate situations, providing an uplifting message, connection and common ground. Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers project advances a mission which is wholly relevant today. When discussing the healing properties of music, the Panamanian jazz pianist, humanitarian and educator speaks of “recovering the function of the artist as a tool to redirect humanity in a positive direction.” The Global Messengers came to fruition through the culture and experiences of Pérez’s musical colleagues from all over the world, using their talents to make an impression through beautiful melodies and strikingly syncopated rhythms. His album Crisálida and live performances have a rare ability to take an audience to experience the ancient practice of building community through music.
Inspiring young players to believe that they can positively affect their communities as they learn their craft, Pérez serves as a UNESCO Artist For Peace, Cultural Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, Founder and Artistic Director of the Panama Jazz Festival, as well as Founder and Artistic Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
DANILO PÉREZ, JOHN PATITUCCI & BRIAN BLADE: CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT
Celebrating and inspired by Wayne Shorter, musical soulmates Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade have long performed together as essential members of the Wayne Shorter Quartet. Embracing the message of their mentor and friend, these three virtuosos celebrate Wayne’s music and introduce new compositions with the Children of the Light trio. Their three-way conversation is an intense collective improvisation, unfolding and constructing the music like a rhythmic and smoldering chamber recital. Called “three musicians capable of improving and altering the course of any musical situation which they may encounter,” it’s been said a Children of the Light sound check “sounds better than half the finished recordings out there!” Speaking of recordings, their self-titled debut album released to critical acclaim and 5-star reviews in 2015. NPR says, ‘Wayne Shorter is Children of the Light’s hidden chord, but this trio draws power from plenty of other sources and influences too. And with its inspired music, Children of the Light shines brightly enough to last as long as any band.”
SYMPHONY
As a solo artist and as a collaborator with jazz giants from Dizzy Gillespie to Wayne Shorter, for over three decades Grammy-Award Winning Panamanian Pianist-Composer Danilo Pérez has been lauded as one of the most creative forces in contemporary music. With Jazz as the anchoring foundation, Pérez’s Global Jazz music is a blend of Panamanian roots, Latin American folk music, West African rhythms, European impressionism – promoting music as a borderless and multidimensional bridge between all people.
Since 1993 Pérez has released twelve albums which have earned him critical acclaim, and numerous accolades around the world. He is a recipient of the United States Fellowship 2018, and the 2009 Smithsonian Legacy Award. For nearly two decades, Pérez has been part of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, alongside bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. This latest iteration from Shorter has been known as a unique and predominant force in improvisational music both at their historic live performances and on several recordings. In 2018 Blue Note records released the highly anticipated EMANON from the Wayne Shorter Quartet which won a Grammy in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental album in 2019.
PRESS QUOTES:
“Danilo Pérez is a man with some serious jazz cred… The Panamanian pianist got his start playing with Dizzy Gillespie, and continued with Wayne Shorter… As a composer and bandleader himself, he’s practically peerless”
NPR
“…the packed house had been mesmerised by the trio’s twist-and-turn interplay and by the virtuosity pushed to the edge.”
Financial Times
“There is nothing small about Danilo Pérez’s ambitions. The pianist wants nothing less than to create a Panamanian style of jazz composition”
JazzTimes
