DANILO PÉREZ - Central Avenue (1998) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Danilo Perez has invited us to step onto Central Avenue to re-examine his musical heritage. His fourth album, named for the main boulevard in his native Panama City, Panama, serves up a mix of blues, folk singing and nostalgia. Perez's fresh, liberating piano reinterprets such jazz standards as Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and John Coltrane's "Impressions" by using new combinations of rhythms, tempos and instruments that ultimately spotlight his technique. Perez continues to explore the themes introduced in his previous release, Panamonk. His piano playing is now more dynamic and reflects his true virtuosity. The Rhythm in Blue Suite, which includes "Playground," "Sideways" and "Love in 5," consists of blues ballads written by Perez that are further complemented by the casual and graceful artistry of bassist John Patitucci and the impressive drumming of Jeff "Tain" Watts. Perez later showcases the vocals of Panamanian folk singer Raul Vital on "Panama Blues" in an improvisational mix of Latin-American folk and Afro-Cuban rhythms. This piece captures the essence and synthesis of Perez's creation. The result: Central Avenue is an exciting blend of musical styles that rediscover Perez's musical visions and innate rhythms...including his Latin blues. by Paula Edelstein
Tracklist :
1    Blues For The Saints    6:08
Danilo Perez
2    Impromptu (Conversations)    5:38
Danilo Perez
3    Lush Life    5:47
Billy Strayhorn
4    Playground    2:46
Danilo Perez
5    Sideways    5:31
Danilo Perez
6    Love In 5    5:26
Danilo Perez
7    Impressions    5:53
John Coltrane
8    Cosa Linda    5:11
Danilo Perez
9    Panama Blues    4:05
Public Domain
Credits :
Bass – John Benitez (pistas: 7, 8), John Patitucci (pistas: 1 to 6, 9)
Congas, Guiro, Claves, Shekere – Pernell Saturnino (pistas: 2, 7)
Cuatro – Aquiles Baez (pistas: 9)
Drums – Jeff "Tain" Watts (pistas: 2, 4 to 7, 9), Jeff Ballard (pistas: 1, 3, 8)
Percussion [Okonkolo, Iya, Itotele] – Miguel Anga Diaz (pistas: 9)
Piano – Danilo Perez
Producer – Tommy Lipuma
Tabla – Ray Spiegel (pistas: 2)
Vocals – Luciana Souza (pistas: 2, 7), Raul Vital (pistas: 9)

DANILO PÉREZ - Motherland (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

When most people hear the term Latin jazz, they think of a mixture of bop and Afro-Cuban rhythms -- bop mixed with son, mambo, cha-cha, guaguanco, danzón, and other Afro-Cuban styles that have been described as salsa. But Latin-flavored jazz doesn't have to be Afro-Cuban jazz; in fact, jazz is compatible with numerous Latin rhythms that didn't originate in Cuba. Technically, Danilo Pérez's Motherland is Latin jazz because it fuses jazz with Latin elements. But it isn't Afro-Cuban jazz, and it isn't the type of Cubop that people associate with Machito, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, and Poncho Sanchez. Instead, this introspective, chance-taking CD finds Panamanian pianist Danilo
Pérez combining post-bop with a variety of Latin rhythms, everything from Panamanian tamborito to the samba and baião of Brazil. Pérez also uses Afro-Cuban rhythms at times, but it's important to stress that salsa is only one of the many tools in his arsenal. There is no reason why Motherland cannot be described as Latin jazz, after all, it is jazz with a strong Latin flavor. But unlike other releases by Spanish-speaking jazz artists, this excellent CD demonstrates that Latin jazz isn't necessarily Afro-Cuban jazz. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Intro    0:45
Danilo Perez
2    Suite For The Americas - Part 1    2:55
Danilo Perez
3    Elegant Dance    5:49
Danilo Perez
4    Panafrica    4:47
Danilo Perez
5    Baile    1:57
Danilo Perez
6    Song Of The Land    5:21
Danilo Perez
7    Suite For The Americas - Part 2    5:00
Danilo Perez
8    Prayer    4:37
Danilo Perez
9    Overture    3:48
Danilo Perez
10    Rio To Panama    4:38
Danilo Perez
11    Panama Libre    6:48
Danilo Perez
12    Panama 2000    8:36
Danilo Perez
13    And Then ...    1:02
Danilo Perez
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Carlos Henriquez, John Patitucci
Drums – Antonio Sanchez, Brian Blade
Electric Guitar – Kurt Rosenwinkel
Lead Vocals, Electric Bass – Richard Bona
Percussion, Congas, Tambourine, Maracas, Cajón – Luisito Quintero
Piano, Keyboards – Danilo Perez
Producer – Tommy Lipuma
Soprano Saxophone – Chris Potter
Violin – Regina Carter
Vocals – Claudia Acuña, Luciana Souza