DL Media announces performance dates for Panamanian pianist, composer, and educator Danilo Perez and his new project, Things to Come: 21st Century Dizzy. With performances in Philadelphia, Toronto, New York, Ann Arbor, Minneapolis, and Chicago, these performances will feature an all-star cast of musicians: David Sanchez on tenor saxophone; Rudresh Mahanthappa on alto saxophone; Amir ElSaffar on trumpet and voice; Jamey Haddad on percussion; Ben Street on bass (John Patitucci will substitute for Street on the first three dates); and Adam Cruz on drums.
Perez, who recently signed with Mack Avenue Records in 2009 and is expected to release his label debut in August, has brought together this diverse and global group of musicians to celebrate the music and bountiful inspiration of his mentor, Dizzy Gillespie. Perez's hand-picked all-stars, with roots in Afro-Cuban, be-bop, Indian, African, and Middle Eastern music, will more than honor Dizzy's legendary vision and keep true to the music that they've grown into all their lives.
Things To Come: 21st Century Dizzy showcases music that simultaneously addresses the culture of Panama, the culture of Latin music as it is interpreted by jazz musicians, and classic jazz repertoire together with the leader's own original compositions (in addition to performing new arrangements of classic Gillespie tunes).
As the youngest member of the final edition of Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation Orchestra, Prez learned first-hand how Gillespie embraced musical and personal collaborations through the world. Perez reflects, “One of the greatest experiences was working with Dizzy Gillespie, certainly the greatest master that I had the chance to play with."
Dizzy's bands were a constant melting pot of styles, genres, and pan-global collaborations. Perez uses this premise as a foundation for his endeavors.
Perez states, “The purpose of the music I'm doing right now is to really find common tones in the world; how we, through music, actually come together and become one in this day of acknowledging differences. I am acknowledging the common tones in the world and that oneness feeling. All those layers you see in this, how we as human beings, as individuals come together and create communities. That's the feeling I want to create."
An extraordinary artist, Prez is among the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time. In just over a decade, his distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz (covering the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music) has attracted critical acclaim and loyal audiences from all around the world. A long standing member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Perez has recorded and performed with the likes of Steve Lacy, Roy Haynes, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Tito Puente, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. Perez is the Artistic Director of the Berklee College of Music's newly formed Global Jazz Institute (a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines) as well as the annual Panama Jazz Festival. Additionally, he serves as the Artistic Director of the Kimmel Center's “Jazz Up Close" series.
Danilo Perez Presents Things to Come: 21st Century Dizzy
Friday, March 19: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, March 27: The Royal Conservatory Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Canada
Thursday, April 1 - Sunday, April 4: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
Thursday, April 8: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Saturday, April 10: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Friday, May 21: Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
