The acclaimed Panamanian pianist and jazz composer Danilo Pérez has been appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace “in recognition of his efforts to provide outreach music programmes to children living in extreme poverty in Panama and his dedication to the ideals and aims” of the United Nations cultural organization.
The musician, known for his
distinctive Pan-American jazz style, has received many awards for his social
work in Panama. He is the president of the Danilo Pérez Foundation which
provides outreach music programmes to children living in extreme poverty in the
country.
“It’s an incredible honour
to be named Artist for Peace, and I take it with a lot of pride,” Pérez told
SWAN after giving a lively concert at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris on Nov. 20.
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| Pérez with UNESCO's director-general Irina Bokova |
“I’ll do my best to expose
youth to the music, the values of the music and what it can teach about how we
relate to other people and to our environment,” he added.
Born in Panama in
1965, Pérez currently directs the
Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music, in Boston,
Massachusetts. He has developed an educational curriculum based on what he
calls “inter-connective learning”, which allows students to experience and
practice ideas linked to social change through music.
Pérez also serves as the Artistic Director for the
Panama Jazz Festival, an annual event that attracts thousands of jazz fans and
provides auditions, admissions and scholarships for Latin American music
students and professionals. The tenth edition of the Festival takes place
January 14-19, 2013, in Panama City.
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| The jam session |
American jazz legend Herbie Hancock,
who will be among the performers, has called Pérez one of the “most exciting”
pianists of today, and the Panamanian lived up to that billing with his
performance in Paris. He did a jam session with local musicians and even got
the be-suited officials present to snap their fingers and shout their
appreciation.
Pérez draws on his Latin
American roots, be-bop, and Caribbean and world music to create his own
individual blend. “He’s just great,” said one Mexican staffer who attended the
concert.
According to UNESCO,
Artists for Peace are “internationally-renowned personalities who use their
influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCO’s message and
programmes”. The agency works with them in order to “heighten public awareness
regarding key development issues” and to inform the public about UNESCO’s
action is in these fields.
(Images courtesy of UNESCO)
