The Cedar Presents
☀️Summer at The Cedar : DANIEL VILLARREAL
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 / Start: 6:00 PM / End: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Outdoors on The Cedar Plaza, Mixed Seated and Standing
Free
Please note that the event will begin outdoors on The Cedar plaza at 6:00pm. Concessions will be available for purchase from The Cedar.
In the event of severe weather, or an air quality advisory, we will not reschedule the event. Instead, we will host the show indoors at The Cedar and admit all patrons into the show on a first-come, first-served basis until the venue reaches capacity.
Prospective attendees can RSVP to this event online.
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Daniel Villarreal moves fluidly from psychedelia and jazz to Latin rock, fusion, funk, blues, ballads, salsa, and soul, shaping these influences into a sound that is personal and unmistakable. At the center of his music is the beat: a grounding, propulsive groove that engages both body and mind, live or on record. His collaborators span a wide musical spectrum, including Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Joe Chambers, Neal Francis, Mary Lattimore, Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Charlie Hall of The War On Drugs, and cellist Leyla McCalla.
TAIGA
One listen—and one look at the overlapping Venn diagram of musical styles navigated by drummer, percussionist, and composer Daniel Villarreal—reveals an artist who thrives across genres. In his case, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” feels especially apt. Villarreal moves fluidly from psychedelia and jazz to Latin rock, fusion, funk, blues, ballads, salsa, and soul, shaping these influences into something personal and unmistakable. At the center of his music is the beat: a grounding, propulsive groove that engages both body and mind, live or on record.
Known for his collaborative spirit, Villarreal has performed and recorded extensively with the genre-blurring collective Dos Santos, while also developing a growing body of work as a bandleader and sideman. His collaborators span a wide musical spectrum, including Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Joe Chambers, Neal Francis, Mary Lattimore, Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Charlie Hall of The War On Drugs, and cellist Leyla McCalla. Across these partnerships, Villarreal brings a composer’s ear to the drum set and an improviser’s instinct for structure, form, and restraint. Originally from Panama, he moved to Chicago in the early 2010s, before relocating to Philadelphia in 2023.
Raised on punk and hardcore, Villarreal’s musical foundation expanded under the mentorship of Freddy Sobers, drummer for El General and Nando Boom—pioneers of reggaeton in Panama. As Villarreal recalled in a 2021 interview with the Chicago Reader, “He told me that if I wanted to be a good drummer, I had to learn all the styles,” a philosophy that continues to guide his wide-ranging approach to rhythm.
As Dos Santos gained national recognition, Villarreal began envisioning a solo project. Early studio experiments led to a turning point during a 2019 trip to Los Angeles, when a simple stereo recording of an improvised session with friends clarified his creative direction. The result was Panamá 77, his debut album for International Anthem, released in spring 2022.
In October 2020, Villarreal joined Parker and Butterss for two afternoons of recording at Chicali Outpost in Los Angeles, their first in-person session after the pandemic shutdown. The resulting album, Lados B (2023), captured what Pitchfork described as “the pleasure of hearing three top-tier players rediscover the joys of playing with each other in real time.”
Since settling in Philadelphia, Villarreal has formed the Daniel Villarreal Trio with vibraphonist Victor Vieira-Branco and bassist John Moran. Their immediate chemistry led to a residency at Solar Myth and a forthcoming album slated for 2026. Whether leading or supporting, Villarreal consistently blurs the line between rhythm and melody, positioning percussion as a dynamic and expressive narrative force.
To learn more about Daniel Villarreal:
