Austin Peralta

Austin Peralta (October 25, 1990 – November 21, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer from Los Angeles, California. He was the son of film director and Z-Boys skateboarder Stacy Peralta.

Early life Austin Peralta was born on October 25, 1990, to filmmaker Joni Caldwell and Z-Boys skateboarder and film director Stacy Peralta. Peralta started playing piano at the age of five and was soon recognized as a prodigy. At age 10 while learning classical piano, he developed an interest in jazz when a friend gave him a Bill Evans CD. In 2003 at age 12, Peralta was awarded the Shelly Manne New Talent Award by the Los Angeles Jazz Society, which was presented to him by Quincy Jones. In addition to the piano, Peralta also played the upright bass, drums and saxophone. He was an honor student at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica. Peralta studied classical piano for five years at Pepperdine University and later with jazz pianist Alan Pasqua and saxophonist Buddy Collette.

Career At a young age Peralta performed in Los Angeles with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra at venues such as the Jazz Bakery and the Blue Whale jazz club. At age 15, he performed at the 2006 Tokyo Jazz Festival with his group, The Hour Trio, Peralta said that he did not promote his first two albums because the producer did not allow him to express his artistic vision.

Peralta was interviewed in the documentary film Being in the World by Tao Ruspoli, which includes a brief performance interlude in support of the interview (available in full on YouTube).

Death Peralta died on November 21, 2012, at the age of 22. The LA County Coroner's Report indicated the most likely cause of death was viral pneumonia aggravated by a combination of alcohol and drugs.

Deathgasm Ensemble The ensemble name Deathgasm is an inspiration from the Bardo Thodol (the so-called Tibetan Book of the Dead) and the Gaspar Noé film Enter the Void. Peralta felt that his music had the power to evoke spiritual places similar to death, orgasm, love, or "whatever". So he decided to name his ensemble Deathgasm. Pan African Peoples Arkestra – 60 Years (2023) John Carter Egizi - 'Jazz Prodigies' (2021) Shafiq Husayn - 'The Loop' (2019) Various Artists - 'Brainfeeder X' (2018) Natasha Agrama - 'The Heart of Infinite Change' (2017) Bunny Brunel – 'Invent Your Future' (2015) Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - 'Unreleased Vol. 2' (2014) Natasha Agrama - 'The Brave One' (2014) Grey Reverend - 'A Hero's Lie' (2013) Octavious Womack – 'Superstar' (2012) Franky Rousseau Large Band - 'Hope' (2012) Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes (2012) Teebs - Collections 01 (2011) Thundercat - The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011) Strangeloop - "Fields" (2011) Erykah Badu - "New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh" (2010) Shafiq Husayn - "En' A-Free-Ka" (2009) Tim Ries - "Stones World: The Rolling Stones Project II" (2007) Adam Rudolph & Go: Organic Orchestra - "Thought Forms" (2006)