Jorge Perez-Albela

Jorge Pérez-Albela started playing drums at age 16 in his native Lima, Perú. In the early nineties Jorge kept a busy schedule performing with artists, such as, Latin Grammy-winning pop singer Gian Marco Zignago, Grammy-nominated música Peruana star Eva Ayllón.Inspired by the beauty and richness of Peruvian music, Pérez-Albela began to play the cajón, which he learned directly from the masters. To date Jorge continues to research Afro-Peruvian music by periodic visits to his hometown, Lima, Peru.In 1994, following his passion for Jazz, Pérez-Albela relocate to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music.Pérez-Albela has been featured at the "Jazz en Lima" International Festival (Peru), with his jazz trio (w/ Eli Degibri on sax and Edward Perez on bass). Jorge has toured Europe with Javier Vercher, Albert Sanz and Andre Fernandes, performing at the most prestigious venues and festivals.A Boston resident, Pérez-Albela is actively involved in the city’s jazz scene, and frequently commutes to New York City for performances or recordings, including recent appearances at The Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm, etc. His versatility, deep knowledge of jazz and South American rhythms, and ability to integrate jazz drums with cajón make him a one-of-a-kind musician. He can be heard in current performances/recordings with Grammy-winning composer/conductor Maria Schneider, pianists Bert Seager, Danilo Perez, Jarrett Cherner, Geoffrey Keezer and Leo Blanco, singers Sofia Koutsovitis and Mili Bermejo, Saxophonists Dan Blake and Grace Kelly; trumpeters Jason Palmer and Peter Kenagy.His project, Avantrio, in collaboration with Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder and Argentine vocalist Sofia Koutsovitis, weaves jazz with Peruvian sounds at the core.Throughout the years, Pérez-Albela has studied with Danilo Pérez, Bob Moses, Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, Hal Crook, Jamey Haddad, Ralph Peterson, Alex Acuña, Efrain Toro, Vicente Lebron, among others.Pérez-Albela has taught percussion in the Boston area since 1997, where he also directs a music therapy program at the Edward Devotion Public School in Brookline, Massachusetts. He has taught master classes at the National Conservatory in Lima, Perú, and at the Portsmouth Dance and Percussion Festival, in New Hampshire.