Biography

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 Perez has been lauded as one of the most creative forces in contemporary music. With Jazz as the anchoring foundation, Perez’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. For nearly 20 years, Pérez has been part of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, alongside bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. This latest Shorter iteration is a unique and predominant force in improvisational music both at their historic live performances and on many 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. Pérez, who served as Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF, has received a variety of awards for his musical achievements, activism and social work efforts. He is a recipient of the US Fellowship and the Smithsonian Legacy Award. He serves as UNESCO Artist for Peace, Cultural Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, Founder & Artistic Director of the Panama Jazz Festival, and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.