One of the most dynamic and influential musicians of our time, Danilo Pérez, joins the Santa Fe Symphony on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. The Symphony is extremely excited to have Perez and the Grammy Award-winning Danilo Pérez Trio join them for this exciting and unique concert. Enjoy music from Pérez’s CD Across the Crystal Sea, such as “If I Forget You” on a theme by Rachmaninov, “Purple Condor” on a theme by de Falla, and the Brazilian influenced “Le boeuf sur le toit”by Darius Milhaud.

Immediately following this spectacular evening, is the “Club Symphony” party at La Posada Resort & Spa. Enjoy delicious gourmet food stations, a jazz trio, and dancing. Meet the evening’s Grammy Award-winning guest artist, Danilo Pérez. All proceeds will benefit the Santa Fe Symphony’s Jazz Meets the Classics Concerts Initiative. Tickets for the dinner/dance party are $125 per person, a portion of which is tax-deductible. Call the Santa Fe Symphony for additional information (505) 983-3530. Click here for more information about Club Symphony!

Danilo Perez is regarded by many as among the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time and he is known for a distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz covering the music of the Americas, folkloric, and world music. Perez is a recipient of the 2009 Legacy Award from the Smithsonian Latino Center for those making a significant impact on American culture. Perez was born in Panama in 1966 and is a graduate in composition and now a professor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, where he heads the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He has performed and recorded with a “who’s who” of traditional and contemporary jazz figures including Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Paquito D’Rivera, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Haden, Roy Haynes, Jon Hendricks, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Tito Puente, and Wayne Shorter. His recordings include “Danilo Perez” in 1993 and “The Journey” in 1994, both for RCA Records; “PanaMonk” in 1996 and “Central Avenue” in 1998, both for Impulse Records: “Motherland in 2000 and “Til Then” in 2003, both for Verve Records; “Live at the Crystal Showcase” for Artist Share; and “Across the Crystal Sea” in 2008. Central Avenue won a Grammy nomination as Best Jazz Album of the Year and Motherland received Grammy nominations in two categories for Best Latin Jazz Album. Perez’ latest cd, “Providencia,” was reviewed by Paul Weideman in the Pasa CD Review section (Sept 3-9, 2010). Weideman says about Providencia, “This is one of the best(cd) of 2010.” Weideman knows of what he speaks. Providencia was just nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award in the category of Best Instrumental Jazz Album. Perez was the first jazz musician to perform with the Panamanian Symphony Orchestra which featured an expanded 80 piece orchestral version of “The Journey.” Perez serves as Ambassador of Goodwill for UNICEF, Cultural Ambassador for Panama, President and co-founder of the Panama Jazz Festival, and Artistic Advisor of the innovative Mellon Jazz Close Up series at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.