Luis Perdomo (pianist)

Luis Perdomo
Perdomo performs with his quartet at the International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este in 2015.
Background information
Born	(1971-02-19)February 19, 1971 Caracas, Venezuela
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, educator
Instrument(s)	Piano
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Hot Tone, RKM, Criss Cross Jazz
Website	luisperdomojazz.com

Luis Perdomo (born February 19, 1971, in Caracas, Venezuela) is a jazz pianist, composer, and educator.

Career

In 2002, he joined saxophonist Ravi Coltrane's quartet with double-bassist Drew Gress and drummer E. J. Strickland. The four toured and recorded together at least until 2012.^[1][2]

Perdomo first recorded in 2003 with RKM Music.^[3] In 2007, Jason Crane interviewed Perdomo for an episode of the podcast The Jazz Session. A focus of the interview was Perdomo's album Awareness (RKM Music, 2006).^[4]

In 2012, he recorded Universal Mind, a trio album with Gress and drummer Jack DeJohnette whom Perdomo says had been one of his major musical influences, even back to his early years in Venezuela.^[3]

In 2022, Perdomo was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for his work with saxophonist Miguel Zenón on the collaboration album El Arte Del Bolero. Perdomo had been making music with Zenón since before 2004 when they were students together. In 2024, the duo won the Grammy for El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2. The same year, Perdomo taught at the Berklee College of Music and was an adjunct professor at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in New York teaching jazz performance in piano.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Perdomo has also played with Robert Hurst,^[12] Jamie Baum,^[13] John Ellis,^[14] JD Allen,^[14] Marcus Rojas,^[14] Gregg August,^[14] Frank Lacy,^[14] Shelley Washington,^[14] Mimi Jones,^[15] John Patitucci,^[3] Ray Barretto,^[3] Alice Coltrane,^[3] Brian Lynch,^[3] David Sanchez,^[3] Dafnis Prieto,^[3] Yosvany Terry^[3] and others.

His style is influenced by Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, Paul Bley and Herbie Hancock. From the age of 12, was playing on Venezuelan TV and radio stations.

Others he has played with are Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye, Dave Douglas, Tom Harrell, Henry Threadgill, David Gilmore, Steve Turre, David Weiss and Robin Eubanks.

Education

At the age of 10, Perdomo became a student of the Vienna-born Venezuelan musical icon, pianist Gerry Weil.^[16]

At the Manhattan School of Music, where Perdomo earned his Bachelor of Music in 1997, he studied with pianist Harold Danko. Perdomo graduated with a Master's degree from Queens College in New York City, where he studied with the legendary pianist Sir Roland Hanna.^{[4][6][10][11]}

"The biggest lesson I received from Gerry Weil in Venezuela was to keep my mind open to all types of music" he says. He eventually realized that he would have to travel to New York City to fulfill his musical destiny. "Being in a more competitive and challenging environment was a big change that I welcomed".^[17][18] At the Manhattan School of Music he was a student of Danko and classical pianist Martha Pestalozzi. Luis also cites Jaki Byard as one of his teachers.

Personal Life

Perdomo is married to double-bassist and vocalist Mimi Jones with whom he also performs.^[15][19]

Discography as leader

• Focus Point (RKM, 2005)
• Awareness (RKM, 2006)
• Pathways (Criss Cross, 2008)
• Universal Mind (RKM, 2012)
• The Infancia Project (Criss Cross, 2012)
• Links (Criss Cross, 2013)
• Twenty-Two (Hot Tone, 2015) – This CD includes Perdomo's band, The "Controlling Ear Unit", with bassist Mimi Jones and drummer Rudy Royston
• Montage (Hot Tone, 2016) – This CD features a band with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Mark Shim on saxophone, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and drummer Billy "Jabali" Hart.
• Spirits and Warriors (Criss Cross, 2016) – same personnel as Montage

Selected Discography as sideman

With Tom Harrell

• Oak Tree (HighNote Records, 2022)

With Miguel Zenon

• El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2 (Miel Music, 2023)
• Musica De Las Americas (Miel Music, 2022)
• El Arte Del Bolero (Miel Music, 2021)
• Sonero (Miel Music, 2019)
• Tipico (Miel Music, 2017)
• Identities are Changeable (Miel Music, 2014)
• Alma Adentro:The Puerto Rican Songbook (Marsalis Music, 2011)
• Esta Plena (Marsalis Music, 2009)
• Awake (Marsalis Music, 2008)
• Jibaro (Marsalis Music, 2005)
• Ceremonial (Marsalis Music, 2004)
• Looking Forward (Fresh Sounds New Talent, 2002)

With Ravi Coltrane

• Spirit Fiction (Blue Note, 2012)
• Blending Times (Savoy, 2009)
• Influx (Savoy, 2007)

With David Sanchez

• Carib (Stretch Music / Melaza Music / Ropeadope Records, 2019)

With Henry Threadgill

• Double up plays Double up plus (PI, 2018)

With Ray Barretto

• Homage to Art (Sunnyside, 2003)

With David Gilmore

• From Here to Here (Criss Cross Jazz, 2019)
• Energies Of Change (Evolutionary, 2016)
• Numerology Live at the Jazz Standard (Evolutionary, 2013)

With Steve Turre

• Woody's Delight (High Note Records, 2012)

With Jon Irabagon

• Dr Quixotics Traveling Exotics (Irrabagast, 2018)
• Behind The Sky (Irrabagast, 2015)

With Brian Lynch (musician)

• Spheres of Influence Suite (EWECD 2008)
• ConClave (Criss Cross Jazz, 2004)

With Ben Wolfe

• Fatherhood (Resident Arts Records, 2019)
• Live At Smalls (SL, 2010)
• No Strangers Here (MaxJazz, 2008)

With Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye

• Timbalaye (Shanachie 1998)
• Best Kept Secret (Shanachie 2000)
• It's Time (BKS Records 2007)

With Gregg August

• Dialogues On Race (Iacuessa Records 2020)
• Four By Six (Iacuessa Records 2012)
• One Peace (Iacuessa Records 2007)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luis Perdomo (pianist).

• Profile on All About Jazz
• March 25, 2005 Article on JazzTimes by John Murph
• Profile on All Music
• June 11th, 2007 Interview at All About Jazz

List of Venezuelan Americans