Jafet Pérez, Dominican Rhythms in New Orleans Jazz

Artículo en español>>JAFET PÉREZ: Ritmos Dominicanos en el Jazz de Nueva Orleans

Jafet Perez, a passionate musician originally from Santiago, the second capital of the Dominican Republic, has found a new home for his talent in the vibrant streets of New Orleans. A drummer, percussionist, and bassist, Jafet arrived in the city in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, after losing everything in his country. However, his resilient spirit and love for music propelled him to rebuild his life and career in this land of jazz and blues.
In the Dominican Republic, Jafet dedicated himself entirely to music. For five years, he worked for the Carnival Plus Line cruise company, where he was part of the Latin band. They played Latin shows every day and spent up to nine months at sea. This experience allowed him to travel and get to know much of the Caribbean.

Upon arriving in New Orleans, Jafet faced challenges. For two and a half years, he stopped playing music and worked hard in a restaurant, working up to 12 hours a day washing dishes. He thought that forgetting about music and dedicating himself to other jobs would be the sacrifice he would make to support his wife and three children. However, his destiny was to return to his passion. Through a mutual friend, he met Fermín Ceballos, a Dominican musician living in New Orleans. Fermín invited him to a birthday party where Jafet played the tambora.

That night, Jafet also met Alexey Martí, a Cuban musician who was impressed with Jafet’s sound and invited him to play at an event in a New Orleans hotel. There, Jafet met Víctor Campbell and began to connect with many other local musicians. That event marked the beginning of his musical career in New Orleans, as Jafet began to play in numerous musical groups in the city, returning to music, sharing his Dominican rhythms and his talent with the world.

In a twist of fate, Jafet was invited to a conversation with Ben Jaffe, creative director of Preservation Hall. Without much information, Jafet went to the appointment, which resulted in an offer to become the drummer of the iconic Preservation Hall Jazz Band. This band, a pillar of traditional New Orleans music, has welcomed Jafet and his great Latin talent into one of the most important institutions for the preservation of jazz in New Orleans. “For me, it was a dream I didn’t dream, that came true in an incredible way, because my dream has always been to play in a jazz band; to represent our Latin culture with our rhythms, but also to make other kinds of music, and it has been an immense opportunity that they have given me to be able to be in this great band that is Preservation Jazz’”. His participation with Preservation Hall not only highlights his exceptional talent, but also underscores the diverse and inclusive nature of the New Orleans music scene. Jafet now brings the rhythms of his native Dominican Republic to the most prestigious stages, demonstrating that music knows no borders and that passion and dedication can overcome any obstacle.

When Jafet is not on stage, he likes to spend time with his family, and to compose and produce his own songs and albums, as well as producing for other artists who have trusted his vision. You can find Jafet Perez’s music on the various digital platforms, and see him play at Preservation Hall on Tuesdays and at various festivals and jazz halls in the city.

VIVA Música es una inciativa de VIVA NOLA para promover a los artistas Latinos en Nueva Orleans y es posible en parte gracias a una subvención de la New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.