Global Jazz Forum: Danilo Pérez and John Patitucci

Danilo Pérez is an incomparable pianist, composer, social activist, and educator who is the artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Widely considered one of the most inspired—and inspiring—musicians today, Pérez has received hearty acclaim from DownBeat, Billboard, NPR, and many of the legendary musicians with whom he has collaborated, including fellow pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who has called Pérez “amazing” and noted that “he is not afraid of anything.” Pérez has toured or recorded with artists such as Wayne Shorter ’99H, Paquito D’Rivera ’03H, Terence Blanchard, Jack DeJohnette ’90H, and Gary Burton ’62 ’89H. His work has been commissioned widely, including by the Frank Gehry–designed Museum of Biodiversity in Panama. Pérez serves as a United Nations artist for peace and is the founder and artistic director of the world-renowned Panama Jazz Festival. His most recent album, Children of the Light, features Pérez in a trio setting with John Patitucci on bass and Brian Blade on drums.

John Patitucci is a Grammy-winning virtuosic bassist and Berklee Global Jazz Institute visiting scholar who has worked extensively with Chick Corea ’97H, Wayne Shorter ’99H, Herbie Hancock ’86H, Stan Getz, and Pat Metheny ’96H. An 11-time Grammy nominee, Patitucci earlier this year released a vinyl-only, subscription-based album on Newvelle Records, Irmãos de Fé, featuring his takes on works by revered Brazilian composers such as Antônio Carlos Jobim and Milton Nascimento. All About Jazz praises the album for its “perfect blend” of respect for the composers’ original intentions and “the adventurous spirit” that makes room for “a unique stamp on these works.”