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"Generations of Piano Trio"

Kenny Barron Trio; Danilo Pérez Trio

Saturday, May 6 • 8pm

The evergreen excitement of piano, bass, and drums.

“The word ‘elegant’ probably was coined with pianist Kenny Barron in mind,” wrote the Chicago Tribune last October of the Philly-born piano maestro, a veteran of the bands of Stan Getz, Yusef Lateef, and Dizzy Gillespie. A fellow Gillespie alumnus, Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez has been hailed for his “glinting technique, an expressive melodic gift, and unerring time” (Village Voice), heard recently in his own groups and in Wayne Shorter’s celebrated new quartet.

Program Notes

The piano is celebrated with two of jazz’s most dynamic pianists, Kenny Barron and Danilo Pérez. Barron is the elder of the pair, whose post-bop delivery is characterized by elegance and soul. The Los Angeles Times has called him “one of the top jazz pianists in the world,” and Jazz Weekly has named him “the most lyrical piano player of our time.”

The Philadelphia-born, New York-based Barron began his career playing with the likes of James Moody, Lee Morgan, Roy Haynes and Lou Donaldson. His big break came with Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he performed for five years (1962-66). He later worked with Yusef Lateef (1970-75), whom Barron credits as being a key influence in his approach to improvisation, as well as bassist Ron Carter, in his two-bass quartet (1976-80). The co-founder of the Thelonious Monk tribute band Sphere, Barron came into his own as a leader in the ’90s, especially with a series of excellent albums for Verve. He now records for Sunnyside Records.

Pérez is also a Gillespie alum, and came under the trumpeter’s wing when he arrived from Panama in 1982. He too recorded for Verve, delivering such gems as 1996’s PanaMonk (Monk tunes interpreted with Panamanian rhythms) and 2000’s Motherland, a tribute to his Latin American roots. His latest release is the superb trio date, Live at the Jazz Showcase, on ArtistShare. Not only does Pérez consistently mine his Panamanian heritage in his music, but he has also been instrumental in founding the annual Panama Jazz Festival. In reporting on this year’s festival in the Wall Street Journal, critic Larry Blumenfeld wrote about Pérez’s performance: “The music was, by turns, celebratory and brooding, full of knotty harmonies and catchy riffs, with space cleared for several extended solos.” In addition to his own solo career, Pérez is the pianist in saxophonist Wayne Shorter’s amazing new quartet, also featuring bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade.

— Dan Ouellette

Pre-concert Talk: 7:00pm

"Art of the Trio"

NOTE: Pre-concert talk for ticket holders only.

Designed to enhance audience appreciation, these 30-minute talks from the stage precede selected concerts, films and other events. Talks take place one hour before curtain, are free to ticket holders for the event to follow.