Description
Panam 77 a vibrant and verdant suite of multi-textural, jazz-laced psychedelic instrumental folk-funk is the debut album by Panam-born, Chicago-based drummer and DJ Daniel Villarreal.Though its a debut work in the eyes of the world, Villarreal has long been a widely known and beloved character on the Chicago music scene. On almost any night of the week, youll find him DJing at atleast one spot on bustling 18th Street in his home neighborhood of Pilsen. (The decadent track 18th & Morgan is an homage to that strip, with its lowrider meets Roy Ayers vibe, vividly depicting Villarreals daily life driving to a gig in his classic baby-blue Mercedes sedan, wearing a beaver-skin Stetson and tinted aviators.) If hes not there, hes playing drums with Dos Santos, Valebol, The Los Sundowns or Ida y Vuelta (all bands he co-leads), or sitting in with Wild Belle or Rudy De Anda.
Villarreal may be most known for his big style and magnetic personality, but to musicians on the scene, its as much for his talents as a malleable and reliable drummer, with a deep pocket in many styles and sounds. Through Dos Santos and Ida y Vuelta, hes demonstrated a range of knowledge and skill in various stripes of folkloric Latin music; but, ironically, he didntreally play traditional Latin music until he moved to the States from his hometown Panam City. His deepest roots in drumming are from the progressive punk and hardcore scenes of Central America, where his bands NOHAYDIA and 2 Huevos 1 Camino were active in the late 90s. Those formative experiences are the foundation of his career in music.
After his teen years thrashing on the punk scene, Villarreal started a life-changing tutelage with Freddy Sobers, the drummer of El General and Nando Boom (both known for pioneering reggaeton music in Panam). He taught me how to play all kinds of rhythms and told me I didnt have to just play punk music, Villarreal told the Chicago Reader in 2021. He played everything from Rush to reggaeton to Chick Corea to salsa music He told me if I wanted to be a good drummer, I had to learn all the styles. He took me under his wing, and I learned a lot from him. Villarreal evokes another Panamanian legend in Patria, a tribute to the organist and composer Avelino Muoz. My father, who also played the organ, used to listen to him growing up. I was always curious about its haunted sound. This recording is a total obeisance to Muoz, my father and my country. via Label
Label:International Anthem Recording Company
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Yellow/Black Marble [Polyrhythmic Polaroid]
Released:2022
Genre:Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style:Psychedelic
File under: International Anthem Recording Company
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