Across the Crystal Sea is the latest chapter in Pérez's extraordinary career as a pianist and bandleader who delivers a distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz that covers the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music. He's not only impressed critics (for example, The New York Times' Ben Ratliff writing that he is "a bold example of the musicological rethinking of jazz"), but also fellow musicians. Wayne Shorter says that Pérez "has all of the attributes of a performer, conductor, impresario and purveyor of musical expression greatly needed in these uncertain times" while Herbie Hancock says that Pérez is "not afraid of anything."