# … but there are still amazing musicians like Danilo Perez: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/12/28/but-there-are-still-amazing-musicians-like-danilo-perez-video/
- Published: 2018-12-28T20:04:19+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**29.12. – Happy Birthday !!! “… but there are still amazing musicians like Danilo
Perez, who plays piano with Wayne Shorter’s quartet. He is not afraid of anything.”**
**–
Herbie Hancock**

Pianist, composer, educator and social activist, Danilo Pérez is among the most 
influential and dynamic musicians of our time.

Born in Panama in 1965, Pérez started his musical studies when he was three years
old with his father, a bandleader and singer. By age 10, he was studying the European
classical piano repertoire at the National Conservatory in Panama. After receiving
his bachelor’s degree in electronics in Panama, he studied jazz composition at the
prestigious Berklee College of Music. While still a student, he performed with Jon
Hendricks, Terence Blanchard, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi and Paquito D’Rivera.
Quickly established as a young master, he soon toured and/or recorded with artists
such as Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Orchestra from 1989-1992, Jack DeJohnette,
Steve Lacy, Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Tito Puente,
Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Gary Burton, and Roy Haynes. In 2000, Danilo joined
Wayne Shorter, to form Shorter’s great quartet with John Patitucci and Brian Blade.
Since 2003 he has been touring with regular trio featuring Ben Street and Adam Cruz.

In 1993, Pérez turned his focus to his own ensembles and recording projects, releasing
eight albums as a leader, earning Grammy® and Latin Grammy® nominations for _Central
Avenue_ (1989), _Motherland_ (2000), _Across The Crystal Sea_ (2008). In 1996 he
was sign by producer- Tommy Lipuma to join the Impulse label and recorded _Panamonk_,
a tribute to Thelonious Monk which according to DownBeat magazine is one of the 
most important jazz piano albums in the history. Additionally, Pérez released _Providencia_,
his debut for Mack Avenue Records, in August of 2010. The album was also nominated
for a 2011 Grammy® Award in the category of “Best Instrumental Jazz Album.” As a
composer, he has been commissioned by The Lincoln Center, Chicago Jazz Festival 
and Imani Winds Quintet among others. Last year Carnegie Hall commissioned him to
write an octet for members of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
In May 2014, he was commissioned by The Banff Centre to write a piano quintet for
the Cecilia String Quartet titled “Camino de Cruces” and he also composed the music
for the Museum of Biodiversity in Panama, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.

Pérez, who served as Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF, has received a variety of awards
for his musical achievements, activism and social work efforts. He currently serves
as UNESCO Artist for Peace, Cultural Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, Founder
and Artistic Director of the Panama Jazz Festival, and Artistic Director of the 
Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston’s Berklee College of Music. His latest album,
_Children Of The Light_, a collaboration with fellow Wayne Shorter Quartet members
John Patitucci and Brian Blade was released on Mack Avenue in September of 2015.

In 2015, Danilo premiered two brand new commissions. In July, he premiered “Expeditions-
Panamania 2015” at the Panamerican games in Toronto. At the Detroit Jazz Festival
in September he premiered his “Detroit World Suite- La leyenda de Bayano.”

![Картинки по запросу Danilo Pérez](https://upload.wikimedia.org/
wikipedia/commons/4/48/Danilo_perez_panama_jazz_fest_2012.jpg)

### _Related_