Berklee Global Jazz Institute Celebrates the Impact of Jazz Era Icons
Danilo Pérez
On March 31, the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) will present its eighth annual Berklee Global Jazz Summit with a special concert. This year’s summit celebrates the impact of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Ella Fitzgerald in today’s global jazz era.
The concert will be held at 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, and will feature the following artists:
- Danilo Pérez, artistic director, Berklee Global Jazz Institute
- Joe Lovano, Gary Burton chair in jazz performance and BGJI faculty member
- Terri Lyne Carrington, Zildjian chair in performance and BGJI faculty member
- Ben Street, artist in residence at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute
- Jason Palmer, assistant professor, Ensemble Department
- Patrice Williamson, associate professor, Voice Department
These world-class bandleaders and composers, virtuosos of their respective instruments, are some of the most recognizable descendants of the iconic artists being celebrated at the performance. Together, this diverse group will offer an enlightening and original reflection of some of history's most important artists.
“Dizzy Gillespie taught me that music is one of the best tools for diplomacy, and a great platform for intercultural dialogue,” said Pérez. “We are thrilled to honor him and other jazz icons with this performance.”
Students from the undergraduate and graduate-level programs will contribute with their own global reinterpretations of Gillespie, Monk, and Fitzgerald inspired by their mentors at the institute. The BGJI is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment.