Featured Artist: Danilo Perez

CD Title: Across The Crystal Sea

Year: 2008

Record Label: Decca Records

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: Danilo Perez (piano) with orchestra arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman. Guest artists include: Cassandra Wilson on vocals for tracks 3 and 6, and Christian McBride on bass, among others.

Review:

Across The Crystal Sea is a lively, melodic jazz journey utilizing various jazz styles and world music. One of its great charms in the hypnotic, complex piano stylings of the gifted jazz pianist, Danilo Perez. Perez is not as well known as he should be, but his piano performances place him in the top bracket of excellent jazz pianists creating and performing contemporary jazz. There is so much fine jazz work in this CD collection that it is hard to pick and select! This reviewer was totally captivated by the sounds of the pianist and orchestra.

Each song takes its pleasure in exploring the jazz motifs at hand, and the variations are breathtaking. There are eight songs in the collection, and each song takes the listener on a magical mystery tour. The songs are: "Across the Crystal Sea," "Rays and Shadows," "Lazy Afternoon," "The Purple Condor," "If I Forget You," "(All of a sudden) My Heart Sings," "The Saga of Rita Joe," and "Another Autumn."

Cassandra Wilson gives a perfect rendition of the John LaTouche/Jerome Moross song, "Lazy Afternoon," and the solo work of Danilo Perez is brilliant; together, they give a most memorable performance of this song! This song is worthy of much radio play time.

A classic jazz work, filled with much innovation and brilliance, it will be played often. Excellent. Highly recommended.

Tracks: This is an unusual CD, one that will delight and intrigue the listenered. It has some classic jazz work, and among its many fine songs are

Record Label Website: http://deccarecords.com

Artist's Website: http://www.daniloperez.com

Reviewed by: Lee Prosser

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