Born in Lima, Peru, Jorge Pérez-Albela is a drummer, percussionist, educator, composer, and producer whose work is deeply rooted in jazz and enriched by Afro-Peruvian and global rhythmic traditions. Coming from a lineage of musicians and educators that includes Peruvian Jazz pioneer: Isidoro Purizaga and drummer / composer, Rafael “Pocho” Purizaga, Jorge developed an early connection to music as both a cultural language and a means of expression. He began playing drums at age 16 and quickly established himself as a versatile and sensitive musician.

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In the early 1990s, Jorge maintained an active performing career in Peru, collaborating with Latin Grammy–winning artists Gian Marco and Eva Ayllón. During this time, he began an in-depth study of Afro-Peruvian music and its signature instrument, the cajón—an influence that continues to shape his artistic voice.

Driven by his passion for jazz, he relocated to the United States in 1994 to study at Berklee College of Music, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Music and later graduating Summa Cum Laude from Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute with a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance.

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As a performer, Jorge has appeared on stages and recordings with Grammy-winning and internationally renowned artists including Maria Schneider, Danilo Pérez, Rubén Blades, Eva Ayllón, GianMarco, The Either Orchestra, George Garzone, Avishai Cohen, Jerry Bergonzi, Geoffrey Keezer, Rufus Reid, Eddie Gomez, Daniel Blake, Alon Farber's Hagiga, Tal Gamlieli, Jean Pierre Magnet, and many others. Based in Boston, he remains an active presence in the city’s jazz scene while regularly performing in New York City at venues such as The Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, The Jazz Gallery, Jordan Hall, Scullers, The City Winery, and the Berklee Performance Center. His international performances include major jazz festivals and cultural venues across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.

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Equally committed to education, Jorge is a respected educator, mentor, and coach whose work spans more than two decades. He joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music’s Summer Performance Aspire Program in 2010 and has taught at institutions and festivals worldwide, including The New England Conservatory, the Panama Jazz Festival, the Internal Compass Jazz Seminar (Israel), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, national conservatories in Peru and the Dominican Republic, the Jerusalem Academy of Music, and the Portsmouth Dance and Percussion Festival. From 1997 onward, he also directed a long-running mentorship program for at-risk youth in Brookline, Massachusetts, impacting thousands of students over 23 years.

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Jorge’s teaching philosophy centers on empowerment—helping students develop strong fundamentals, a deep sense of time and sound, and the confidence to find their own artistic voice. He is also a drum circle facilitator, offering sessions in schools, festivals, and community spaces, using rhythm as a tool for healing, connection, and unity. 

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Known for his deep knowledge of drums, cymbals, tuning, and sound, he has coached many drummers in refining their personal sound and musical identity. 

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Jorge is a Bosphorus Cymbals Artist endorser.

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As a composer and bandleader, Jorge released his debut album The Time Is Now, featuring nine original compositions. The opening track, “The Mirror,”was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition from over 26,000 entries. Recorded and mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Rob Griffin, the album blends jazz with rhythmic influences from Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Africa, and India, featuring vocalist Sissy Castrogiovanni, pianist Tim Ray, bassist Jesse Williams, and an international cast of guest artists. Across his creative work, Jorge is guided by the belief that music transcends borders—connecting people through tradition, emotion, and truth.