The Panama Jazz Festival was founded in September 2003 by pianist and Grammy winner Danilo Pérez.
History Perez founded the festival with the intent to improve people's lives through the shared experience of music.
After almost 20 years, the Panama Jazz Festival has become a cultural tourism attraction with more than 500,000 people from various latitudes visiting. The festival is produced by a team of 2 directors (Patricia Zarate, Executive Director and Danilo Perez, Artistic Director), 70 coordinators, 500 volunteers, 300 national and international musicians, and about 200 collaborators from all sectors of Panama.
The festival provides a week of master classes by musicians from Berklee College of Music, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and the New England Conservatory. Other institutions that have participated in the festival include the Golandsky Institute, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Sienna Jazz Foundation, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, New York Jazz Academy, and the Paris Conservatory.
Musicians who have attended the festival include Kenny Barron, Rubén Blades, Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Nnenna Freelon, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Jordan, Joe Lovano, Ellis Marsalis Jr., John Patitucci, Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Mike Stern, Chucho Valdés, Randy Weston, and Lizz Wright.
Invited musicians teach master classes where students from Latin America and the world come together to learn from the international masters of jazz. Among the musicians who have given lectures are Kenny Barron, Brian Blade, Ran Blake, Terri Lyne Carrington, Regina Carter, Santi Debriano, Jack DeJohnette, Nnenna Freelon, Tia Fuller, Eddie Gómez, Craig Handy, Charlie Hunter, Stanley Jordan, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, Marco Pignataro, Kurt Rosenwinkel, David Sanchez, Wayne Shorter, Janis Siegel, Ben Street, Steve Turre, Chucho Valdés, and Randy Weston.
The festival supports the year-round educational programs of Danilo Perez Foundation, which brings art and music to children from all socio-economic status in the Republic of Panama. The idea for the Danilo Perez Foundation originated in the 1965 when Danilo Perez Urriola (father of the pianist) started his educational programs with children of poverty in Panama and created an elementary and high school curriculum where all classes were taught through improvisation, composition, and the performance of music. Since 2009, chilean saxophonist and music therapist Patricia Zarate de Perez has directed the festival implementing new technology, expanding national and international collaborations, systematizing all aspects of the production of the festival, transforming the event into a self sustainable institution.
Recordings Panama Suite (2006) was recorded with students and faculty of Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory to commemorate five years of the Panama Jazz Festival. All tracks were composed and directed by Danilo Perez and produced by Billy Herron and Berklee College of Music.
Associated schools and organizations Berklee College of Music and Berklee Global Jazz Institute City of Knowledge Danilo Perez Foundation Embassy of the United States Embassy of Spain Embassy of France New England Conservatory Panamanian Government: Presidency, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and Panama City mayor University of Massachusetts Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz New York Jazz Avademy Santiago de Chile's Conservatory Golandsky Institute Puerto Rico's Conservatory Paris Conservatory
Clinics" that take place during the Festival An important part of the festival is musical education, it consists of all the invited artists having master classes called "Musical Clinics", where students from all over Latin America and the world come together to learn from International Jazz teachers. Among the international artists who have given lectures are Wayne Shorter, Chucho Valdés, Jack De Johnette, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Randy Weston, Brian Blade, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nnenna Freelon, Kenny Barron, Marco Pignataro, Eddie Gómez, Regina Carter, Steve Turre, Stanley Jordan, Janis Siegel, David Sánchez, Charlie Hunter, Tia Fuller, and many more.
The Jazz Festival has also offered master classes in Panamanian Folklore, dance, classical music groups (with renowned national and international musicians and the best of the New England Conservatory of Music, thanks to the Berklee College of Music Production and Engineering Department), and many other topics.
International artists
In 2003: Danilo Pérez Trio (Danilo Perez on piano, Ben Street on bass, Adam Cruz on drums); Kenny Barron on piano (Kenny Barron on piano, Kiyoshi Obata on bass, Kim Thompson on drums); Mike Stern on guitar (Bob Franceschini on sax, Lincoln Goines on bass, Lionel Cordew on drums); Steve Turre on trombone (Hector Martignon on piano, Steve Kirby on bass, Obed Calvaire on drums, Richie Flores on percussion); Carlos Garnett on tenor saxophone from Panama; Regina Carter on violin (David Budway on piano, Mayra Casales on percussion, Alvester Garnett on drums, Chris Lightcap on bass); Charlie Hunter on Guitar; Barbara Wilson on Voice; Danilo Perez Sr. on Voice. In 2005: Jack DeJohnette on drums and piano (Danilo Perez on piano, John Patitucci on bass, Joe Lovano on saxophone, Ricaurte Villarreal on percussion); Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone (Dennis Irwin on bass, William Drewes on sax, Francisco Mela on drums, James Weidman on piano, Judi Silvano on voice); John Patitucci double bass and bass guitar; Victor Paz on trumpet from Panama; Janis Siegel on voice (Steve Hass on drums, Darek Oles on bass, Alan Pasqua on piano). In 2006: Randy Weston on piano (feat. Alex Blake on bass, Neil Clarke on percussion) from U.S; Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar from U.S; David Sánchez on saxophone from Puerto Rico; Carlos Garnett on tenor saxophone from Panama; Mark Turner on saxophone and clarinet from U.S; Victor Paz on trumpet from Panama; Santi Debriano on bass (Patricia Vlieg on voice) from U.S. In 2007: Edmar Castañeda on Harp from Colombia; Nnenna Freelon on Voice; Carlos Garnett on Tenor Saxophone; Panamanian Band (feat. Danilo Perez on piano, Billy Cobham on bass, Santi Debriano on drums, Jorge Sylvester on sax, Renato Thoms); Victor Paz on trumpet; Banda Tributo a Chile on saxophone (feat. Patricia Zarate on sax, Mili Bermejo on voice, Francisco Molina on drums, Nando Michelin on piano, Dan Greenspan on bass). In 2008: Tia Fuller on saxophone, Kim Thompson on drums; Kelley Johnson on voice (Graciela Nunez on violin, Yomira John on voice); Stanley Jordon on guitar; Catherine Rusell on Voice; Dave Samuels on vibraphone (Caribbean Jazz Project). In 2009: Wayne Shorter on saxophone feat. Brian Blade on drums, Danilo Pérez on piano, John Patitucci on bass; Luba Mason on voice feat. Rubén Blades on voice, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Hubert Laws on flute and saxophone; Marco Pignataro Quintet with Marco Pignataro on saxophone feat. Eddie Gómez on bass, Matt Marvuglio on flute, Mark Kramer on piano, Billy Drummondon drums from Italy; Chucho Valdés on Piano. In 2010: Lizz Wright on Voice; Carlos Garnett on Tenor Saxophone; Jamey Haddad on Percussion; Joe Lovano on Tenor Saxophone; Terri Lyne Carrington on Drum and Voice; Ellis Marsalis Jr. on Piano; Juanito Pascual on Guitar; John Patitucci on Double bass and electric bass. In 2011: Ben Street on Double bass; Adam Cruz on Drum set; Tom Patitucci on Guitar; Rudresh Mahanthappa on Saxophone from Italy; Paoli Mejias on percussion; John Patitucci on Double bass and guitar; Claudia Acuña on voice, Jon Cowherd on piano, Juan Herrera on bass, Edgardo Serka on drums; Brian Lynch on trumpet, Alain Perez on percussion; Conrad Herwig on trombone, Lucques Curtes on bass, William O'Connell on piano, Pedro Martinez on percussion. In 2012: John Scofield on guitar, Ben Street on bass, Bill Stewart on drums; Charlie Sepúlveda on trumpet, Raul Maldonado; Luis Bonilla on Trombone; Omara Portuondo on Voice; Chucho Valdés on Piano; Carlos Garnett on saxophone, Carlton Holmes on bass, Taru Alexander on drums; Tito Puente Jr. on percussion, Rosado Marlow, Teri Roiger, John Menegon; Jed Levi on saxophone, Alvester Garnett on drums, Thomson Neekland on bass, Misha Tsiganov on piano; Adalberto Santiago on voice. In 2013: Herbie Hancock on Piano; Wayne Shorter Quartet with Wayne Shorter on saxophone feat. Brian Blade on drums, Danilo Pérez on piano, John Patitucci on bass; Bill Frisell on Guitar; Susana Baca on Voice. In 2014: Lizz Wright on Voice; Kenny Garret on Saxophone; HBC Trio feat Scott Henderson on guitar, Jeff Berlin on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums; Pisco Trio with George Garzone on saxophone, Jorge Perez on drums, Ehud Ettun on bass; Nedelka Prescod on Voice; Shea Welsh on Guitar; Michelle Coltrane on Voice; Kevin Harris on Piano. In 2015: Children of the Light with Danilo Perez on piano, John Patitucci on bass, Brian Blade on drums; Benny Golson on Saxophone; Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band (Brian Blade on drums, Jon Cowherd on piano, Chris Thomas on bass, Myron Walden on sax, Melvin Butler on clarinet; Pedrito Martinez on Percussion; Miguel Zenón on Saxophone; Rubén Blades on Voice; MAPUJAZZ ft Claudia Acuña on Voice; Omar Alfanno on Voice and composer; Phil Ranelin on Trombone; Uwe Kropinski & Michael Heupel on Guitar and flute). In 2016: Randy Weston on Piano; David Murray on Saxophone; Terry Lyne Carrington on Drums; Geri Allen on Piano; Danny Rivera on Voice; Dave Douglas on Trumpet; Dominique Eade on Voice; Rudresh Mahnthappa on Saxophone; Tony Vega on Voice, Percussion from Puerto Rico; John Patitucci on Double bass, bass guitar; Tom Patitucci on Guitar; Arild Andersen on Double bass; Tal Gamlieli on Double bass. In 2017: Esperanza Spalding on Voice, Double bass; Dianne Reeves on Voice; Romero Lubambo on Guitar; Children of the Light with Danilo perez on piano, John Patitucci on drums, Brian Blade on drums; Terri Lyne Carrington on Drums; Bill Dobbins on Piano; John Patitucci Electric Guitar Quartet – Adam Rogers, Steve Cardenas (2 Guitars, bass, drums). In 2018: Wayne Shorter Quartet on saxophone feat. Danilo Perez on piano, John Patitucci on bass, and Brian Blade on drums; Panamonk Revisited feat. Danilo Perez on piano, Ben Street on bass and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums; Chucho Valdés Quartet on Piano, bass, drums, percussion; Ran Blake on Piano; Luciana Souza on Voice; Santi Debriano Quartet on sax (feat. Craig Handy on piano, Bill O'Conell on bass and Tommy Campbell on drums; Marco Pignataro Quartet on sax (feat. Lefteris Kordis on piano, Ben Street on bass, Terri Lyne Carrington on drums); Bill Dobbins on Piano. In 2019: Alex Blake Jr. on bass; Andre Hayward on trombone; Lucía Pulido on voice; Russel Blake on Bass; Gunhild on trombone; Danilo Pérez's Global Messengers feat Farayi Malek on voice, Vasilis Kostas on lauto, Layth Al-Rubaye on violin and voice, Naseen Alatrash on cello, Tareq Rantisi on percussion and Danilo Pérez on piano; Janee Bunnet and Maqueque fet Jane Bunnet on saxophone and flute, Melvis Santa on voice and percussion, María Paz on voice and congas, Dánae Olano on piano, Tailin Marrero on bass, Yissy García on drums; Andre Hayward on trombone; Corazantes feat Lucia Pulido on voice, Misha Marks on guitar, Amanda Irarrazabal on bass; Rotem Sivan on guitar; PJ Andersson trombone; Jas Kayser on drums. In 2020: Adam Cruz on drums; Cyrus Chesnut on piano; Danilo Pérez on piano; Chris Collins on clarinet; Diane Reeves on voice; John Patitucci on bass; Ravi Coltrane on saxophone; Terri Lyne Carrington on drums; Ben Street on bass.