Bohuslän Big Band and Danilo Pérez collaborate on a new and unique album.
Danilo Pérez and Swedish jazz orchestra, Bohuslän Big Band, release a record where Pan-American rhythms meet the Nordic big band sound. The album, characterized by improvisation and playfulness, is evidence of music's power to unite cultures.
The new album is the result of a collaborative effort marked by openness, a spirit of experimentation, and mutual respect. The music, of which the majority is composed by Danilo Pérez, has its roots in Pan-American rhythms and grooves and is as majestic as it is playful with its elements of both improvisation and free flowing melodies. With song titles like "Galactic Panama" and "Sunburn & Mosquito," Danilo's roots are never far away and permeates in the feeling of the music.
"The album is a milestone in my career," says Pérez. "It symbolizes the power of music to bring cultures together and create shared experiences of beauty and harmony. The project is also special because it was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its release stands as a testament to the commitment and effort of everyone involved in bringing this Global Jazz vision to life.”
The album brims with joyful spirit. The freely flowing improvisation between Danilo Pérez's piano and Joakim Rolandsson's soprano saxophone on "Lumen," or the beautiful flugelhorn solo by Staffan Svensson on "Across the Crystal Sea," and especially the last two minutes of "Sunburn & Mosquito," are all examples of a musical encounter beyond the ordinary.
Together with Bohuslän Big Band, Danilo carries on the rich tradition of Panamanian jazz music, from pioneering musicians like Luis Russell and Sonny White to Eric Dolphy and Billy Cobham, blending it with the Nordic touch that characterizes Bohuslän Big Band.
"It has been an honor for us to be emersed in Danilo's boundless energy, musical integrity, and creative vision," says Eric Brandström Arellano, orchestra manager for Bohuslän Big Band. "He has truly created an inclusive and exploratory atmosphere in this project. This has opened the door for the musicians to delve deep into the intricacies for the music and embrace his artistic vision."
In 2019, Panamanian-born world pianist Danilo Pérez initiated a collaboration with Bohuslän Big Band in his role as Artist in Residence at Vara Concert Hall. In addition to touring, workshops, and work with the youth big band Next Generation Big Band, they also recorded Pérez's music in new big band arrangements, now released.
The album will be released on October 25th, with two single releases in August and September respectively.
