Customer Reviews

Motherland

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Motherland is Danilo Perez's best. He just seems to improve with every album. I thought he'd reached his zenith after his release of The Journey, then after Panamonk, then after Central Avenue. I'm happy to be wrong, yet again. As a panamanian, this record (and in fact all his records) strike a particular nationalistic vein. In this album, "Elegant Dance" was easy to recognize as a "punto", a popular dance back home. All his rhythms, techniques, improvisations, just scream "Latin". But they're also a universal code, accessible to anyone, from any nationality.

Along the lines of Keith Jarrett's "Expectations" and Wayne Shorter albums like "Native Dancer", Danilo's latest is a sincere, personal synthesis of influences and experiences that crosses all genres. There need to be more albums like this that, instead of sticking stubbornly to one genre or jumping frantically among many, reflects Shorter's one-time definition of jazz: "no genre."

Motherland is a clear indication that jazz is about to change its path. Danilo Perez is quickly becoming the MIles Davis of this decade. As a fusion master, Danilo Perez has pushed the limits of jazz to new realms ; refreshening, intense but delicate, this album may become a landmark as to the direction jazz music will go from now on. I agree 100% with The new York Times Critic's choice as No.1 pick of the year 2000. On the other hand, the recent nomination to the Grammys on the Latin Jazz Category indicates that the Academy is not yet prepared to recognized this talented panamanian as master pianist/composer/arranger in the jazz genre ( without adjectives) . Its to hard to accept, coming from a latino, that he speaks the jazz language more fluently that most jazz pianists in the world.

Watch for more to come from Danilo Perez in the near future.

With Motherland ,Danilo Perez proves one more time that jazz is the perfect ground for planting the universal or world music seed. He is a master of fusion that deserves wider recognition. I was glad to see Motherland as the year 2000 No.1 pick of The New York Times critic's choice ; it's a well deserve award. Also, Motherlands'nomination for the Grammys in the Latin Jazz category shows that the music academy is facing a big dilema "clasifying" this Latino that somehow speaks the true American Jazz language more fluently than most pianists in the world. We'll they ever be brave enough to nominate him in the Jazz Category, without adjectives? this is not Latin Jazz, is music at its best.

Motherland is Danilo Perez's best. He just seems to improve with every album. I thought he'd reached his zenith after his release of The Journey, then after Panamonk, then after Central Avenue. I'm happy to be wrong, yet again.