Jazz Review : Panamanian Pianist Strays From Keyboard at Catalina

Maybe Danilo Perez should just consider keeping his hands out of the piano.

That’s “out,” not “off.”

When he approached the instrument in traditional fashion during his opening set at Catalina on Tuesday night, the results were often impressive. At 27, the young Panamanian artist has the makings of a first-rate jazz pianist.

But, while his adventurous desire to explore the piano’s other sound-producing capabilities via string plucking, stroking and hammering is understandable, his forays inside the instrument’s box provided little more than mildly exotic sound effects.

Most of the program was devoted to material from his new album, “The Journey.” Pieces such as “The Capture,” “Chains,” “The Arrival” and “Flight to Freedom” made a valiant effort to atmospherically depict the slavery history of the Western hemisphere. Much of it was well-crafted jazz, proficiently played, yet curiously lacking any emotional thrust.

Perez and his musicians--saxophonist Larry Schneider, drummer Ignacio Berroa and bassist Larry Grenadier--sounded far more energetic in the only standard of the set, “My Shining Hour.” Schneider, freed from reading Perez’s scores, finally broke loose with an explosive alto solo, and Berroa’s drum impromptu blended rhythmic momentum with a surprising timbral inventiveness.

Best of all, Perez finally revealed some of the straight-ahead jazz skills that were such an attractive element in his work with Dizzy Gillespie. He would do well to retain that aspect of his playing as he expands his own musical vision.

* Danilo Perez at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. (213) 466-2210. $12 cover and two-drink minimum, except Saturday, $15 cover and two-drink minimum. Perez plays two sets each night, 9 and 11, through Sunday.