Danilo Pérez Brings a Touch of Panama to the Kimmel Center’s ‘Mellon Jazz Up Close: Take the Col’train’ Series
March 22, 2005
Danilo Pérez Trio
Eight-Year Old Percussion Prodigy Milagros Blades on Conga to Join Performance
Making his second annual Kimmel Center appearance as a performer and Mellon Jazz Close Up series Artistic Advisor, Danilo Pérez, one of the most innovative pianists, composers and music advocates in the jazz world today, will showcase the music and dance traditions of his native Panama with special guest saxophonist Donny McCaslin, on Saturday, April 2, at 7:30pm in the center’s Perelman Theater. The program will also feature the Danilo Pérez Group comprised of Pérez on piano, Ben Street on bass and Adam Cruz on drums. Joining them for this performance are two folkloric dancers from Panama and eight-year old percussion prodigy Milagros Blades on conga. As part of the 'Mellon Jazz: Take the Col’train' series, a yearlong dedication to John Coltrane, the performance will also pay tribute to the life and music of the jazz saxophone legend.
Panama is the fourth performance in the Mellon Jazz Up Close: Take the Col’train series. Previous programs have featured music from Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Venezuela with internationally acclaimed artists including: guitarist, Claudio Ragazzi; trumpeter, Claudio Roditi; and pianist, Ed Simon. The series closes with Philadelphia, a program that recreates the "Latin Side of Coltrane" with the master’s son, saxophonist, Ravi Coltrane.
Tickets for Panama on April 2, are $35 and $40, and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org.
With three Grammy nominations to his credit, Pérez, and his Pan-American Jazz (covering the music of the Americas, Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythm folkloric and world music), have gained a loyal following and international praise. Whether leading his own group or performing with some of the biggest legends in jazz (Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Steve Lacy), he continues to make his mark on jazz music.
Pérez began his musical studies at just three years old under the tutelage of his father. By age 10, he began his classical training at the National Conservatory of Panama. After receiving a degree in electronics, Pérez enrolled in Indiana University in Pennsylvania. But his love for music would force him to change his major to music, and he transferred to the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He burst on to the scene as the youngest member of Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra in 1989. His 3-year stint with Dizzy and the orchestra earned him recognition as one of the masters of the eclectic, post-bop Latin style.
Since 1993, Pérez has made several albums as a bandleader, including The Journey, which was placed on several Top Ten Albums of 1994 lists. As the first Jazz musician to play with the Panamanian Symphony Orchestra, Pérez performed an expanded version of "The Journey" with the 80-piece orchestra. He also gained international praise and recognition for his album Motherland, which The New York Times called "...one of the most ambitious jazz records of the last decade." When Pérez released his newest CD ...Till Then in 1993, Wayne Shorter called it "a prime example of confidence in a future laden with cornucopian gifts for all humanity."
Much like Pérez, Donny McCaslin has earned his acclaim as a bandleader, dynamically diverse jazz musician, and composer. His performing credits include Dave Douglas, Pat Metheny, Brian Blade, Bebel Gilberto, Tom Harrel, Eric Mingus, New York Voices, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. His latest CD, released in 2004, entitled The Way Through showcases McCaslin’s extraordinary improvisation and composition skills and bold musical sound.
Son of a prominent Santa Cruz based pianist and vibraphonist; McCaslin was immersed in the jazz world from birth and began playing the saxophone at age 12. While attending Aptos High School, recognized for it’s strong jazz program, he studied with, and was heavily influenced by local players who introduced him to musicians such as John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, and Michael Brecker. McCaslin continued his education at Berklee College of Music in Boston and studied with Joe Viola, George Garzone, and Billy Pierce. In 1991, he moved to New York City and began working with bassist Eddie Gomez and has not stopped since.
McCaslin has worked with Pérez for the last two years in his Motherland Ensemble. He has released three CD’s on the Arabesque label and has been featured on 29 albums with various artists including Pérez’s ...Till Then released in 1993. Currently, McCaslin lives in Brooklyn, New York and when not working on collaborative projects or recording, he regularly plays with his band at New York’s 55 Bar.
Ben Street studied at The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with Miroslav Vitous and Dave Holland. He moved to New York City in 1991. During his career, he has performed and toured with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Mark Turner, Dave Douglas, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Junior Cook, Clifford Jordan, Billy Harper, Buddy Montgomery and Jimmy Scott. His selected discography includes work with Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Next Step and The Enemies of Energy; Ed Simon, La Bikina; Anthony Coleman, Morenica; Shawn Colvin, Holiday Songs and Lullabies; Ethan Iverson, Jorge Rossy, Chris Cheek, Guilty; Barney McCall, Widening Circles; Ben Monder Trio, Dust; Once Blue, Once Blue; Space Cowboys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Born in New York in 1970, Adam Cruz was introduced to music at an early age by his father Ray Cruz, a well-known percussionist. Later, he studied with Keith Copeland at Rutgers University in New Jersey and Kenny Washington at the New School in New York City. At the age of 20, he worked with Charlie Sepulveda, the Willie Colon Orchestra, quickly gaining recognition in New York Latin and Jazz circles. Since then, Cruz has gone on to record and tour with such noted groups as the Mingus Dynasty Big Band, David Sanchez Band, Leon Parker Band, Tom Harrell and Chick Corea's Origin Sextet. He's also performed with Mongo Santamaria, Airto Moreira, Herbie Mann and McCoy Tyner, Paquito D'Rivera and Eddie Palmieri. He recently debuted his own working band in New York to enthusiastic response. Featuring Cruz's compositions and a combination of instrumental and vocal talent, the group engages listeners with material of surprising range and maturity that reflect his eclectic sensibilities.
Tickets for Panama on April 2 in Perelman Theater range are $35 and $40. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm, and later on performance evenings. For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm for evening performances at 11:30am for matinees.
Sponsors of the 2004-2005 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Bank of America, Sovereign Bank, Wachovia Foundation, The American Express Company, Verizon Foundation, Bucks County Coffee, and SEPTA, the Commuter’s Choice. Special Matinees at the Kimmel Center are generously supported by Merck & Co., Inc. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Venue of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte and Southern Wine and Spirit.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
Mellon Jazz Up Close: Take the Col’train Series
Panama
Saturday, April 2
7:30pm | Perelman Theater
Danilo Perez Group
Danilo Perez, piano
Ben Street, bass
Adam Cruz, drums
Guest Performers:
Donny McCaslin, tenor saxophone
Milagros Blades, percussion
Ricaurte Villareal, percussion
Yoel Olaciregui, dancer
Dayana Castillo, dancer
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