I got the sad news that Austin Peralta has died. Via my high school chum Pat Darrin I got to know the piano whiz kid over the past few years. His star was just beginning to burn brightly. What a loss….he just turned 22 last month.
I never got his latest cd Endless Planets from Brainfeeder, Flying Lotus’ label, but I can run a session Austin and I did on KCRW in 2008.
Austin—you were so talented. We will miss you.
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/cl/cl081026austin_peralta
Here’s a youtube clip of Austin playing Chopin–he was so talented in so many ways.
Finally, a recent clip from Brainfeeder of Austin playing the Tokyo Jazz Festival in 2006. He was just 15 then. Amazing joy, energy, ecstasy. First he plays a McCoy Tyner song, “Passion Dance”, then an original, “In D”