With the release of Crisálida (Mack Avenue Records), which in English translates to "chrysalis," pianist/composer Danilo Pérez moves closer to creating art that bridges the many gaps that exist between peoples of the world. In our conversation, he said forthrightly, "We all need more positive thoughts." The new album is nearly an hour of musical positivity.
Composed of two suites, Crisálida is a collaboration with Pérez's Global Messengers, consisting of alumni from Berklee College of Music's Global Jazz Institute. The musicians, and the instruments they play, create a crazy quilt of musical history and styles, but Danilo seems more than capable of bringing them together. The Global Messengers features percussionist Tareq Rantisi (Palestine), laouto player Vasilis Kostas (Greece), violinist and vocalist Layth Sidiq (Iraq, Jordan), cellist Naseem Alatrash (Palestine) and singer Farayi Malek (United States). Guest appearing on several cuts are batá drummer Román Diaz (Cuba), Ney flutist Faris Ishaq (Palestine), Zárate (Chile), singer Erini Tornesaki (Greece) and the Kalesma Children's Choir of The Ark of the World (Kivotos tou Kosmou) (based in Greece).
Pérez credits his mentor Dizzy Gillespie for the foundation of the idea, as Danilo's career was boosted by participation in Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra. A native of Panama, Pérez has built upon the many musical influences he absorbed there, becoming as he puts it, "a global citizen of music." Danilo is a UNESCO Artist for Peace, the Cultural Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, and the Founder and Artistic Director of the Panama Jazz Festival.
He has released more than a dozen critically acclaimed albums as a leader and served as a key member of the highly regarded Wayne Shorter Quartet with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. We'll talk more about Shorter and other artists with whom Danilo has worked in Part Two of the conversation.
Musical selections in Podcast 918 include the opening movements of the two suites that make up Crisálida: "Rise From Love " from the La Muralla (Glass Walls) Suite, and "Adrift" from the Frontera (Borders) Suite.
