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
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 an American Grammy® Award winning jazz pianist and composer.

Career

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. His first teacher was the Austrian-born jazz pianist Gerry Weil.

"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". He obtained a Bachelor of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he was a student of Harold Danko and classical pianist Martha Pestalozzi, and later on graduated with a master's degree from Queens College in New York City, where he studied with the legendary pianist Sir Roland Hanna. Luis also cites Jaki Byard as one of his teachers.

He has played with Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye, Ray Barretto, David Sanchez, John Patitucci, Dave Douglas, Yosvany Terry, Brian Lynch, Tom Harrell, Henry Threadgill, David Gilmore, Steve Turre, David Weiss and Robin Eubanks among others. He has been a long-standing member of Miguel Zenon's quartet and was a member of Ravi Coltrane's quartet for 10 years.

In addition, he has appeared on over 120 recordings as a sideman, and has released nine CDs as leader: Focus Point in 2005, Awareness in 2006 (both on Coltrane's label RKM Music), Pathways in 2008 (Criss Cross Jazz), Universal Mind (and third for RKM Music) in 2012, The Infancia Project in 2012 (Criss Cross Jazz), Links in 2013 (Criss Cross Jazz) and Twenty-Two in 2015 (Hot Tone Music), This CD includes Perdomo's newest band: The "Controlling Ear Unit", with bassist Mimi Jones and drummer Rudy Royston, as well as "Montage" (Hot Tone Music) and "Spirits and Warriors" (Criss Cross Jazz) in 2016, which features an amazing band with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Mark Shim on saxophone, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and drummer Billy "Jabali" Hart.

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)
• Montage (Hot Tone, 2016)
• Spirits and Warriors (Criss Cross, 2016)

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)

External links

• 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