Danilo Perez Big Band
Panama Suite
Artist Share
By George W. Harris

Pianist Danilo Perez has served handily as sideman for the likes of
Wayne Shorter, yet on this ep disc, he broadens his scope by
highlighting his compositional prowess with musicians from the Berklee
College of Music. Written to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the
Panama Jazz Festival, the three movements are filled with intense
polyrhythms driving the celebratory mood of the music. Each segment has
a specific mood, ranging from the whimsical "Awakening" to "The
Celebration" which, with its voices and multiple horn sequences, evokes
images of a street festival. Clocking in under 20 minutes, the product
is short and suite.