The neo-classical American Trade Hotel, Panama’s first ‘skyscraper’ when it was built in 1917.

PANAMA CITY, Feb 20 — Jazz musician Danilo Perez is set to celebrate the opening of a jazz club at The American Trade Hotel set in Panama City’s first “skyscraper” when it was built in 1917. The 50-seat venue, kitted out by Los Angeles-based designers Commune Design, will feature an industrial vibe thanks to steel doors and original features of the building including the exposed brick walls and floating staircase in the hotel patio. The space will be decorated with memorabilia donated by the Grammy award-winning musician himself.

“The opening of Danilo’s Jazz Club fulfills a long-time dream of mine to have a first-class listening room in Panama that supports the education of — and provides opportunities for — musicians from my home and globally,” explained Pérez.

“Panama has had a long relationship with jazz and I think Danilo’s Jazz Club will be a great platform for people from all over the world to make connections, hear great music and support each other.”

The neo-classical building, originally designed by Leonardo Villanueva Meyer in 1917, was considered Panama’s first “skyscraper”, and was the first building in the country to be made from reinforced concrete.

It was transformed by Hache Uve and Commune Design, and the boutique establishment the American Trade Hotel opened in the city’s Casco Viejo (historic district) in 2013.

Kelly Sawdon, chief cultural engineer of Ace Hotel Group, explains: “Our hotels have always been a platform for community and creative engagement and we find ourselves perfectly aligned with Danilo’s vision to do this with his jazz club on an ongoing basis.

“Through this special cultural exchange amongst travelers, musicians and students alike, we believe we can positively impact both the community in Casco Viejo and the world at large.”