Born and still residing in the Bronx Adan Perez is one of today's top, young and sought-after pianists to hit the scene. He is also one of the few versatile musicians that exist. Whether it's jazz, Latin, pop, r & b, hip hop or gospel he always gives it his all and makes sure that he is heard. Coming from a musical background his father was a great saxophonist and composer as well who had many recordings in his prime. His grandfather, Miguel Perez was the Symphony Conductor back in the Dominican Republic who inspired many of today's top merengue players and wrote a hit called "Los Algodones". His other grandfather who was from Puerto Rico had a cousin called Ramito who was a very famous folkloric (jibaro) singer who composed "Que Bonita Bandera".
At the age of 29, Adan sounds like he has been playing for more than twice his age. Truth be told, Adan was taught how to play the piano as a punishment for striking the keys on his father's keyboard back in their home one day. Here was his dad practicing or trying to compose a new song being interrupted by his 7 year old son who was sneaking up behind him every minute pounding the keys on the piano. His father couldn't concentrate and got really angry so he stood up from the chair and grabbed Adan by the arm, sat him in front of the piano and began teaching him the basics. Adan thought he was going to get hit hard as he did to the piano keys or even get whipped by his father’s belt as usual, but his father had something else in mind; something that would change Adan's life forever.
"You want to keep on disturbing me while I'm playing", said his father;
"Now I'm going to teach you how to strike the keys correctly
". His father had a Latin-Christian band at the time and was the keyboardist; therefore he couldn’t really play his sax, except for the recordings. All of that changed when months later Adan was already touring in Puerto Rico with his father’s band, forcing him to switch back to his original instrument, the sax. Not only did his father notice, but everyone who heard this kid play witnessed that music was bestowed upon him and was a gift given to him directly from God. As he turned 8, his father took advantage of his son's talent and hired a private teacher who then showed him classical. He then studied the saxophone at Talent Unlimited H.S. in New York but it wasn’t until his sophomore year that he fell in love with the art of jazz when a couple of his band mates were looking for a pianist for an afterschool jazz band that they were putting together. Adan listened to jazz at home when his father played recordings from time to time but knew nothing of it and how to play it so he gave it a try and from there on it began. He then started buying music by different jazz pianists especially Latin players like Michel Camilo, Hilton Ruiz, Danilo Perez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chucho Valdes and then other pianists such as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Tete Montoliu and the list goes on.
Whether its playing blazing runs at unbelievable speeds, banging the piano as a drum or hitting unearthly chords Adan's definitely a showstopper. He has this ability and uncanny technique in his fingers that allow him to speak as they wish; and the energy he brings to the setting is so inexplicable that you'll have to see, hear, and feel him to believe it. Nowadays, you can see Adan performing with artists such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ruben Blades, Our Latin Thing, Steve Pouchie and Steve Kroon. He has also had the privelege of working with all types of gigs playing John Scofield, Rodney Jones, Dave Stryker, Richie Goods, John Benitez, Ray Vega, Dominick Farinacci, Bob Franceschini, Julio Botti, Melvin Smith, Ulysess Owens, Afro Mantra, Jimmy Delgado, Luisito Quintero, Ralph Irizarry, Tito Puente Jr., Orlando Marin, Ayanna Irish, Allure, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Jimmy Sabater, Son By 4, NG2,Obie Bermudez, Don Omar, Anais, Taxi Amarillo, Barrio Boyz, Marcy Place, Felix D’Oleo, Gio Williams, Danny Berrios, Ricardo Rodriguez, Gerson Kelly, William Murphy and the list goes on. You're definitely going to hear a lot of great things coming from this artist because he's just getting his feet (or should I say fingers) wet.
