Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Pianist, Educator Hal Galper Dies at 87
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Danilo Pérez released his first new recording as a leader in three years and the fourth for Verve Records, …Till Then, on Aug. 12.
Along with his touring trio, bassist Ben Street and drummer/percussionist Adam Cruz, Pérez also brought in vocalist Lizz Wright, soprano saxophonist Donny McCaslin and half of the Grammy-nominated Wayne Shorter Quartet, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blades, to help out. Tommy LiPuma produced the album.
…Till Then includes three new compositions by the native Panamanian, as well as interpretations of a wide range of Americas composers including Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Milton Nascimento, Ruben Blades, Chico Buarque, Violeta Parra and Silvio Rodríguez.
“Most tracks are first takes,” Pérez said. “We wanted to capture the essence of the spontaneity in our playing together. This record represents a culmination of the evolution of my playing over the last few years.”
For more information, visit www.ververecords.com or www.daniloperez.com
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
Chuck Mangione, one of the most popular trumpeters in jazz history, passed away on July 24 at home in Rochester, New…
Jordan was a dyed-in-the-wool bebopper whose formative musical experiences were with Charlie Parker.
Aug 12, 2025 10:24 AM
Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home…
“I don’t guess I’m going to excite you; I know I’m going to excite you,” Palmieri said in an August 1994 DownBeat feature.
Aug 12, 2025 10:33 AM
Famed Latin jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri passed away in his New Jersey home on Aug. 6. He was…
“What I got from Percy was the dignity of playing the bass,” Buster Williams said of Percy Heath.
Aug 26, 2025 1:53 PM
Buster Williams, who at the age of 83 has been on the scene for 65 years, had never done a Blindfold Test. The first…