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| Third Annual Panama Jazz Festival Festival founder and artistic director Danilo Pérez announced the third annual Panama Jazz Festival, scheduled for January 19 -21, 2006. Having grown in stature each year, the 2006 three day event will feature the Randy Weston African Group, the David Sanchez Group, the Kurt Rosenwinkel Group featuring Mark Turner, the New England Conservatory Ensemble, the University Panama Big Band, led by Vitin Paz with special guests, Santi Debriano and the Sounds of Ashé From the University of Massachusetts, the Carlos Garnett Quartet, the New England Conservatory Ensemble, Mauricio Smith’s Tribute Band, Folk Panamanian Musicians among other national and international musicians. Each year the Festival is dedicated to one of Panama’s musical giants, a musician who exemplifies Panama’s rich musical landscape. For the 2006 Festival, the honoree is Mauricio Smith, who died in 2002. Flautist, reeds player, musical director, composer, arranger, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist and chorus singer; Smith was equally at home in various genres, including. Classical, Latin, calypso, jazz, R&B, pop, show music, movie scores, zouk and compas. Pérez’s first met Smith when he was 14. At the time, Pérez didn’t have any genuine ambition to become a professional musician. But Smith saw something special in Pérez’s playing. Pianist and composer Danilo Pérez has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles, and as a member of the new Wayne Shorter Quartet and other acclaimed jazz groups. His latest CD, Live at the Jazz Showcase was released on Artist Share earlier this year. Notable for his insightful and innovative treatments of the standard jazz repertoire and as a leading exponent of Pan-American jazz music, Pérez is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz and Latin jazz musicians. He has earned three Grammy nominations, numerous awards, and critical acclaim for his recorded works and passionate live performances. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |