Global Jazz Forum: Danilo Pérez and Terri Lyne Carrington
Terri Lyne Carrington B.M. ’83 ‘03H, Zildjian chair in performance with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute
Image by Tracy Love
Danilo Pérez B.M. '88, artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute
Image by John Abbott
Grammy-winning composers Danilo Pérez B.M. '88 and Terri Lyne Carrington B.M. ’83 ‘03H join forces in this not-to-be-missed forum.
Danilo Pérez is an incomparable pianist, composer, social activist, and educator who leads Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute as artistic director. Widely considered one of the most inspired—and inspiring—musicians today, Pérez has been met with hearty acclaim from DownBeat, Billboard, NPR, and many of the legendary musicians he has collaborated with, including fellow pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who has called Pérez “amazing” and noted that “he is not afraid of anything.” Pérez has toured and/or recorded with artists such as Wayne Shorter ‘99H, Paquito D’Rivera ‘03H, Terence Blanchard, Jack DeJohnette ‘90H, and Gary Burton ’62 ‘89H, to name just a few. His work has been commissioned widely, including by the Frank Gehry-designed Museum of Biodiversity in Panama. Pérez serves as a United Nations (UNESCO) 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 (Mack Avenue), features Pérez in a trio setting with John Patitucci on bass and Brian Blade on drums.
Watch Pérez perform with Children of the Light:
Terri Lyne Carrington is a renowned three-time Grammy winning drummer, composer, and bandleader who has toured with music luminaries (and Berklee honorary Doctor of Music degree recipients) such as Herbie Hancock ‘86H, Wayne Shorter ‘99H, Al Jarreau ‘91H, Dianne Reeves ‘03H, and Clark Terry ‘88H. She is Zildjian chair in performance with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Carrington’s extensive recording career includes several albums released as bandleader, including The Mosaic Project, for which she won a Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album, and Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue, for which she won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album—becoming the first woman ever to win a Grammy in this category. Her recording credits include work with Carlos Santana, John Scofield ’73 ‘97H, Terence Blanchard, George Duke, Nancy Wilson ‘94H, Esperanza Spalding, and Geri Allen ‘14H, among many others.
Watch a music video for "So Good" from Carrington (feat. Jaguar Wright):
The Berklee Global Jazz Institute is an honors performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment in which students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical/creative thinking with the natural environment.